'The Golden Days of Radio' - My Review

The Golden Days of Radio is a sweet little show written and directed by David Gardino that is being presented by Swingshift Productions in the modern auditorium at the Gilmartin School in Waterbury.

The show takes us back to June 1942, when gas was 15 cents a gallon, stamps were 3 cents, a coke would cost you a nickel and Waterbury was loaded with movie houses. The two act musical gives the audience a peek behind the scenes at a typical radio show broadcast.

Golden Days of Radio has a little bit of everything, including lots of toe-tapping Big Band music, a sprinkling of comedy, news, and commercials and a heartwarming patriotic ending. The Waterbury references make the performance even more special for area residents.

Joseph Jacovino is the music director and leads an eleven piece and pretty powerful band of area musicians. The Naugatuck Community Band is represented, as is the Waterbury Arts Magnet School (WAMS.) Former WAMS principal Leo P. Lavalle (portraying bandleader Les Sparks) is pretty amazing on his trumpets and even sings a number in the first act.

It is worth the trip to hear WATR’s Tom Chute (as Frankie Fontaine) croon some Big Band standards while wearing a tuxedo; of course he does so beautifully. Happily the rest of the terrific cast, some of whom are members of Mr. Gardino’s band Swingshift, is equally as impressive. Rosalie Veneziano has the acting chops to portray the cutesy Rosie Lee and Sherry Mancini as Peggy James covers the torch songs like “The Man I Love.” Both give wonderful vocal performances.

Michael Dooling is the comic relief as Sal Waters and Joan Dooling appears at the end of the second act as Hazel Kemp. Don Burzier appears briefly as Leo Dibbs Michaelangelo Mancini, Bradd Cyr, Sabrina Santopietro and Hayley Cuttitto are the young people that sing together as the Sparkettes. The writer/director himself covers the role of announcer Sid Carrington.

I really liked the medley of Big Band hits in the second act and my musical teen loved everything. The silver sparkly set is graced with old-fashioned microphones (that worked as well as the more modern kind in this intimate space) and a functioning Foley table for the necessary sound cues. The period costumes work well and the hairdos on the young ladies are quite adorable.

Patrons that remember the era will love this piece of nostalgia and the young can appreciate the great music. The show is a fundraiser for United Way of Greater Waterbury, PAL, Sunshine Fund, Campership Fund, the Senior Center and others, so buying a ticket also supports many area charities. Tickets are $20 for general seating and can be purchased at the door or by calling the box office at 203 233-8765 Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Gilmartin Elementary School is at 94 Spring Lake Rd, Waterbury. Naugatuck residents should take Union City Road off Rt. 68. Remaining performances are November 15, 21, 22 at 7:30pm and November 16 and 23 at 2:00pm.