Review: SING, SING, SWING Along With Servant Stage Company

What if a whole group of professional actors, dancers, and singers decided to put on a show, and do it for "pay what you will," or free? What if they took it to theatres, parks, nursing homes, churches, and anyplace else that would have them? And what if, on top of it, their work was every bit as good as their paid professional work?

If you had that, you'd have Lancaster's Servant Stage Company. And you'd currently have SING, SING, SWING, their revue of swing and World War Two music. From jumping, jiving dancers to an Andrews Sisters style trio of USO girls in uniforms, to crooners, the Forties are well represented by songs that most people know, and that the people who know them, love. And the way that Servant Stage runs, if you want your children or grandchildren to know the music, you can afford to bring them to hear it and to see a show that puts the music into its historical context.

Star crooners are, alternately, regional favorites Reji Woods and Michael Fisher, with such songs as "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Feeling Good." Woods' performances of the standards are delightful; it's worth it to come to the slightly-over-an-hour show just to hear him perform. But the USO trio has the Andrews Sisters down cold with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree," and even the song that taught Middle America to sing foreign songs, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon." Artistic Director Wally Calderon puts the ensemble through their paces on such numbers as "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Take the 'A' Train," while Brandon Cameron solos on "All of Me." Cameron is up and coming, and it's a pleasure to see him on stage in the Servant Stage revue shows.

SING, SING, SWING runs through August 30; check the Servant Stage website for times and locations. The last show will be at New Holland Park at 7:00 pm, a fine way to bring an end to summer vacation. For those who can't get enough of Servant Stage's blend of professional work and community service, the revue is followed right after Labor Day with a full production of the musical version of AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS. There's more Servant Stage to come, as they will be announcing the upcoming season in October. Visit servantstagecompany.com for information.

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