Rockin' Rollicking Senior Revue @ the Whitefire

Rockin' With the Ages II
musical revue produced by Senior Star Power and the Pink Lady
directed by David Mingrino
Whitefire Theatre
through June 13

"Get up, get out and get a life!" is the motto of Pink Lady Jackie Goldberg whose honorable work on behalf of senior citizens everywhere cannot receive enough praise. The second production of Rockin' With the Ages, which proves that "age is only a number" presenting talented seniors over 60, is a rousing, rhythmic, razzmataz show featuring a bevy of well-known Broadway and pop tunes to suit almost anyone's fancy. This show is wholesomely clean, folks -but still engagingly titillating.
A cast of twenty - that's right - 16 gals and 4 gents along with Razzmatappers and Ron Rose on piano and Craig Fine on drums, do a two-hour gig full of song, dance, comedy and even a little drama to wet the tearducts. David Mingrino's staging is fabulous with a never-let-die pace that really moves throughout.
Highlights include: Raffi Mauro perfect with "Mr. Cellophane", "Good to Mama" with Valorie Paradise-Lant super as Big Mama, Joe Cardinale sweetly loving and sentimental on "Sometimes a Day Goes By", an energizing tap "Puttin' On the Ritz", a tearful "Bring Him Home" with cultured soprano Carolyn Val-Schmidt, a cute and sexy "Hurry on Down" with Lant, Val-Schmidt and Bobbi Stamm, Sue Smart - woa, what a great voice! with "Tennessee Waltz", a dynamite production tap called "Production Code" alluding to the censorship of Hollywood in the 30s, and a sizzling "Cell Block Tango" with Stamm, Val-Schmidt, Paradise-Lant, Pattie Brooks, Susan LaCroix and Phyllis Lovit.
The beautiful "From a Distance" made so memorable by Bette Midler about the atrocity of war closes Act I and "Coming to America" Neil Diamond's rollicking hit from "The Jazz Singer" is the patriotic closer of Act II.
It's a Palm Springs Follies on a small-scale kinda' show that will please theatregoers over 40 and especially seniors. One feature to be lauded is that the performers come into the audience and really connect with the patrons. They even hand out fake money during "Money, money, money" and miniature flags at the finale. On the afternoon I attended - there are 3 matinees out of 5 weekly performances on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays - it was a sold-out house with just about everyone loving every minute of what they saw. "They're over the hill, but they're wonderful; I'm jealous!" was overheard as well as "She's over 60? Impossible!"
Lovely ladies, perky gents - all in terrific shape, dancing, singing and giving it everything they've got. You can't afford to miss this uniquely entertaining show that is loaded with heart and charm. It is bound to be a staple in the San Fernando Valley for many years to come. It offers a good time, and that's what people are begging for.
 

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