Talk of the Town: Back to school for QC thespians

Well done to the Quail Creek Performing Arts Guild for the 2009 Madera Review performance of “Welcome Back” presented April 24-25 at the Madera Clubhouse at Quail Creek Resort.

Written and directed by Davey Jones and Tom Barrow, produced by Marilyn Roth with accompanist Marilyn Schum, the musical review starred some of Quail Creek’s most talented singers, actors and dancers and played to packed houses.

With creative help from assistant producer Muriel Larson and musical direction by David Rudloff, the show was centered around a class reunion, and kicked off with a very clever reunion poem beautifully presented by Muriel Larson. The setting was the gym of Lowe’s High and the 50th reunion of the class who graduated too many years ago.

The Prickly Pares, starring David Rudlof, Jim Roth, Rick Ronzheimer and John Gunter, kicked off the music with a number made famous by John Denver called “Country Road.” The group also began the second act with “This Land is Your Land,” a tribute to The Kingston Trio.

The class gossips, Allie and Vallie, played by Alyce Mancini and Beth Davis, were precious. These actresses emceed the event with jokes and introductions of other performers and were “spot-on,” as they say. First up was Craig Nelson and Tom Barrow doing an impressive performance of that famous Abbott and Costello skit of “Who’s on First?”

Classmates Larry Love and Shelby Geddes showed up at the reunion and sang “Unforgettable,” as they were long-lost high school almost sweethearts.

Standup comic Bev Tinel brought the house down with her monologue, “Marriage and Children.” Choreographer Deb Migdalski did a great group instructing Deb’s dancers who performed a couple of toe-tapping numbers: ”Let’s Get Loud” featuring: Kathy Stone, Francesca Moses, Deb Migdalski (choreographer), Beth Davis, Linda Armijo, Mary Ann Jenkins, Karen Feckler, Marge Hockemeier and Sandy Argubright and “Beat It” with: Alyce Mancini, Beth Davis, Betty O’Hearn, Diana Paul, Joyce Corn, Shelby Geddes, Deb Migdalski and Jan Symons.

There was a change of pace when one classmate arrived at the reunion dressed as a nun. Sister Mary Angelita, aka, Nancy Wilson sang “Climb Every Mountain” from “The Sound of Music.”

Then Ian Meldrum made an appearance as the distraught traveler, Mel Drummond, and he was very funny ranting about his lost luggage, or what was left of it.

Jim Roth and Bill O’Hearn belted out two numbers. O’Hearn’s “Blue Suede Shoes” was terrific. The Coyote Chorus followed with Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” featuring Sharrell Fabian and Peter Tinel.

The Shady Pines Trio were show stoppers when they performed “Are You Lonely Tonight?” with Nancy Wilson, Sharon Wagner and Suzie Price. Closing the first half was Pam Campbell performing a Patsy Cline hit, “She’s Got You,” with a twist. This act was very well done and really a comedy hit with the audience.

The Prickly Pares opened the second act with a favorite Kingston Trio hit, “This Land is Your Land” and the audience joined in.

Kudos to Tom Fitzsimmons who sang “Smile” in Act II. There was words of wisdom from Muriel Larson and a hit song from the musical “Grease” featuring the Valley Voices directed by Joyce Corn: Kathy Lynch, Loretta Halboth, Sharon Wagner, Elaine Rogers, Pam Campbell, Alyce Mancini, Mary Ann Jenkins, Shelby Geddes, Ginny Post, Karen Feckler, Muriel Larson, Beth Davis, Becky Barrow, Carole Newman, and Suzie Price and Coyote Chorus: Frank Gunn, Larry Steer, Paul White, Bruce Ranney, Jim Roth, Tom Barrow, Larry Love, Bill O’Hearn and Tom Fitzsimmons.

Jim Gregory and Randy Davis had fun “loafing” and vocalist Marilyn Schum proved that “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”

MC Kollschegg as Daisy Mack recited a clever spoonerism, “Cinderella and the Prince.”

Playing the homecoming queens, Bev Tinel, Nancy Wilson, Ginny Post and Karen Feckler were ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.”

Singing “Memory” from the hit musical “Cats” were Marilyn Schum, Pam Campbell, and Debbie McCardle.

The Copper Clappers played by Jim Street and Frank Gunn was very clever (and they managed to do this comedy piece very well) with help from Mary Campbell-Jones.

Finally, directors Tom Barrow and Davey Jones, along with fellow Geek Squad members Randy Davis, Jim Gregory and Ed Mancini performed a military-like precision drill using lawn chairs. You had to be there, but the audience went wild.

And the people behind the scenes: Shirley Gray (publicity), Joann Street (chairperson), Sue Steer, Elaine Rogers, Joy O’Farrell, Shirley Gray, Shelby Geddes, Beth Davis, Holly Crombie, Jim Street and Alyce Mancini (ticket sellers), Alyce Mancini and Beth Davis (house managers), Paul Ferraro (tech director), Phil Geddes and Steve Jenkins (spotlights), Craig and Carole Campbell (houselights), John Hockemeier (stage manager), Bob Feckler and Larry Corn (stage crew), Sydney Ranney, Judi White, Lynda Rudloff and Kathy Lynch (make-up), and ushers Holly Crombie, Jeanne Reinhardt, Anne Jones and Janis Ferraro. Dianne Thomson (programs).

Songs of the 60s filled the hall, the audience clapped in rhythm and stomped their feet and gave the actors and actresses a well deserved standing ovation.

Laughter and applause filled the room all evening - can’t wait for next year’s show! Well done, fellow Quail Creekers! Green Valley director and theater reviewer Roberta Konen and Yours Truly ask that everyone support the local arts groups!

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740