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Community Corner

Valley Rep presents "Broadway Cabaret"

If You Can Make it Here…

            On July 11, 2014, a sweet-weather Friday night in Enfield, CT, the Valley Repertory Company opened a “Broadway Cabaret,” giving their rendition on over twenty Broadway songs. This was their third annual presentation, and while I caught the first, and missed the second, I have to say that the third was a success, bringing a sold-out audience a couple hours of New York, New York entertainment. Presented at Asnuntuck Community College after spending 23 years at 100 High St., the enjoyment of the audience tells this critic that the work of these young men and women was greatly appreciated.

            The first act opened with the apropos “I Hope I Get It,” from A Chorus Line. Performed by the entire ensemble, this was one of the highlights of the night. It’s funny because it’s a bunch of actors and actresses singing at an audition about how much they really need this job! I’m sure many of the ensemble were singing from experience. Rebecca Rinas continues to grow, as she sang “Climbing Uphill” from The Last Five Years. A crowd favorite was “Anything You Can Do,” from Annie Get Your Gun, performed admirably by Tony Partyka and Bianca Slota. This song was done with playfulness and charm,  and the duo’s chemistry, important for this tune, was good.

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            Mark Proulx was surprisingly good in “On the Street Where you Live,” from My Fair Lady. His performance was heartfelt and longing, and really added to the song. Howard Epstein was great in “Ya Got Trouble,” from The Music Man. He definitely has the persona of a fast-talking pitchman down. I would be nervous having to turn down his sales pitch. Don’t buy a used car from this guy is my advice.  One of the high points of the night was Phaedra Beckwith, Joelle Dzedzy, Amanda Feliciano, Julie M. Martini, and Jessica Turgeon performing “Mama Who Bore Me Reprise,” from Spring Awakening. Soulful and with several powerful voices, this song broke away from the norm of Broadway show-tunes, and was really a hard-hitting song.

            Another fun part of the night was Bianca Slota’s “Millwork,” from Working. She sang and played the guitar in this performance of a James Taylor song, and she nailed it. Playing on a sweet, shiny red guitar, Taylor would have been proud of her performance, apparently one that she had been waiting to deliver for thirteen years. It was then that her first scheduled performance was canceled, and so she had a lot of time to practice. I have to say, since I first saw her perform “Don’t Cry for me Argentina,” from Evita, in the first Broadway Cabaret, she continues to impress. She just has that extra something that makes one believe in her performance.

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            Caity White also continues to grow as a performer, singing “I Want to Go to Hollywood,” from Grand Hotel. However, her best performance, I believe, came in the Second Act. The audience really enjoyed “My New Philosophy,” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Liz Hoffman and Rebecca Rinas shined in this one. Liz Hoffman is, in the mind of this critic, off the hook. A wonderful singer and a piano player as well, I walked away this night impressed. Amanda Feliciano, always a crowd-pleaser with her strong, boisterous voice, wowed the audience with “I’ll Be Here,” from Ordinary Days. The ensemble closed the first act with “Brotherhood of Man,” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

            After a brief intermission, where Valley Rep offered candy, water, and other amenities, the ensemble returned with “Happiness,” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Again, the audience really ate this one up, and listening to the lyrics of the song, I thought to myself, “Hmmm. This is the song before Pharell Williams came up with his version.” Jake Pizzuto is another great performer with Valley Rep, and he has improved immensely from the first Cabaret as well.

            Tony Partyka and Rebecca Rinas scratched the Wicked itch that I’m sure some in the crowd had with their rendition of “Wonderful.” Joelle Dzedzy performed nicely in “What I Did for Love” from A Chorus Line. But it was Phaedra Beckwith and Liz Hoffman giving this writer a good chuckle. I enjoyed them in year one, and they reprised their roles from Guys and Dolls this year, singing “Marry the Man Today.” Again, I think I keep falling for Liz Hoffman everytime she performs. But, on to the next song…

            As aforementioned, Caity White was great, along with her duet partner Jake Pizzuto, in “I Think I Got You Beat,” from Shrek the Musical. She really shines in this role, and I found myself wondering if these two were maaaybe, possibly…ogres? LOL JK. I thought this song let Caity showcase her voice and personality a bit more than her first performance, and I hope that for the next Cabaret she chooses a REALLY challenging piece, because I think she can do even more, especially based on her performance in German at the first Cabaret.

            Fernando Ceballos, Amanda Prose, and Jessica Turgeon showed a couple getting together with the help of a matchmaker, and their performance was memorable, as they sang, “Been a Long Day,” from How to Succeed…  Julie Martini sang, “Ribbons Down my Back,” from Hello, Dolly, and Wes Olds, Mark Proulx, and Bianca Slota sang, “I Wish I Could go Back to College,” from Avenue Q. Having graduated from Assumption College and Providence College as well, I have to admit that I share their sentiments from this piece. Phaedra Beckwith performed “Meadowlark,” from The Baker’s Wife, and the entire ensemble sang a spirited version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” from Rock of Ages. It was a fitting end to what, I thought, was a spectacular night. Albeit for a few flubs, kind of in the style of Ashlee Simpson on SNL a couple years back, the entire cast was good and carries a nice chemistry, making the audience feel as though they definitely got their money’s worth.

            Sue Reese and Lisa Eaton, the producers of this show, as well as the humorous masters of ceremony, help bring a lot of talent to the Enfield theater scene, and should be commended. The proceeds of this show were to benefit the ACC Textbook and Hardship Scholarship Fund for students who are faced with the challenges of the cost of school supplies. Ticket prices were low and for a good cause, and I recommend this Theater Company to anyone looking to escape out to a night of theater with talented actors and actresses, without having to drive all the way to the city. 

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