Theater Review: “The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On" at Center Stage

Shelton - Center Stage Theatre is presenting a high-energy and very professional production of “The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On.” This fourth episode in the Wonderettes series is running through Oct. 23.

It’s 1969, and The Marvelous Wonderettes are back at Springfield High (Go Chipmunks!) to throw a retirement party for their favorite homeroom teacher. As the girls sing their way through the greatest girl-group hits of the '60s and bid Ms. McPherson a fond farewell, one of the Wonderettes reveals she’ll also be saying goodbye to search for success and happiness on her own.

Act II finds the girls back together as the class of 1958 celebrates their 20-year reunion. The classic pop and rock hits of the '70s provide the perfect soundtrack for these old friends to catch up on the places life has led them, all performed with their own marvelous spin.

A few audience members are chosen to play the roles of the school staff members, to the delight of the rest of the audience and there is some humor that will be appreciated by educators (and especially the recently retired) and those who love them.

Center Stage’s mission is all about “building community one performance at a time” and this was certainly evident at their recent partnership with “The Valley Goes Pink” charity performance. The cabaret seating, that will remain in place for upcoming performances, only added to the sense of community as the packed house enjoyed the talents of the actors and the musicians.

The Marvelous Wonderettes” series is written and created by Roger Bean and vocal and musical arrangements were done by Michael Borth. Liz Muller, who is the writer/lyricist of “BINGO Jamboree” that was recently presented at Center Stage, directed and music directed this show, with choreography by Karlene Pektus, who has performed with Norwegian Cruise Lines and for the last eight years has been directing and installing the production shows onboard three cruise lines.

This is a cast that sings together beautifully. They also have great chemistry as their delightful characters.

Kelly Terifay (“Footloose”) is adorable as Cindy Lou. Terifay is a graduate of Newtown High School and was part of Center Stage’s “Footloose,” “Cinderella,” and “The Wedding Singer.” Her character was always the prettiest girl at Springfield High. While her hopes were previously shattered, this raven-haired beauty takes one final chance to make her childhood dreams of stardom come true. Sassy, wicked, with a heart of gold. She gets to sing lead on many songs and does so very well.

Sandra Fernandes (Betty Haynes in “White Christmas,” and the nun in “Bingo Jamboree”) takes on the role of Missy, the over-achiever of the group, keeping control of everything in her path. With her new husband Mr. Lee watching from the front row, this mousy-haired type-A personality reveals that she has a baby on the way.

Emma Foroutan, who is new to the Shelton area, plays the slightly ditsy Suzy. Her character is giddy, happy-go-lucky, and best friends with Missy. Forever in love with her childhood sweetheart (now husband), this fearless blonde worries that her marriage might be on the rocks as the Matchbox plant in town closes and husband Ritchie is forced to look for work out of town. Suzy gets to sing my personal favorite number from the Sixties, “Hurting Each Other.”

Although all of the performers give first-rate performances, Melanie Byron of Shelton is perfectly cast in the role of Betty Jean. Byron was a hoot in the role of Nanny in “Bingo Jamboree” and also played Charlotte in “Cinderella” and Vi Moore in “Footloose.” Her character is the class clown and tomboy of the group who is always quick with a comeback, red-headed Betty Jean has a loving heart that is easy to break. She finally leaves her philandering husband, and discovers the inner strength to survive on her own. Betty Jean and the cast bring down the house with “I Can See Clearly Now/I Am Woman” in the second act.

The bright and period-appropriate set was designed by Ron Baldwin and it was nicely lit with lighting designed by Justin Zenchuk, Liz Muller and Amy Kutniewski.

The onstage orchestra, dressed in period costumes, is led by Muller as she performs with enthusiasm behind keyboard 1. Kami Lujan covers both drums and percussion. The rest of the orchestra is composed of Western CT State University students Minjo Mok on keyboard 2, Endora McNeary on bass, and Israel Corona Galan on guitar. The musicians make the carefully chosen numbers in the score sound magnificent.

Resident costume designer Carol Koumbaros has outdone herself with the two sets of costumes for the four cast members. They appear in brightly colored trapeze dresses for the first act and then change into sparkly ensembles for the second half of the performance. Each character is assigned a color palette and the lighting matches their solos. Don’t miss the go-go boots that match the period.

Center Stage will announce its new season in November.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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