WCT rocks & rolls with the '50s, '60s

Everybody seems to be in love with music of the '50s and '60s these days. Elvis, the Beatles, Chubby Checker and all the other singing sensations evoke a time of going steady, rock-and-roll and the coming of age of television.

In its latest show, Waukesha Civic Theatre presents its homage to the era with "Shake, Rattle and Roll."

The show - a bookend to last year's "Malt Shop Memories at WCT - covers a lot of territory in song, dance, comedy and skits. It opens in a malt shop setting with several young couples seated at tables.

Keeping the show together are Johnny Belmont (Carl Liden) and Rhonda Continental (Mary Melter), who introduce each new song and segment. Liden's Belmont is suitably self-absorbed and smarmy. Throughout the show, he tries to woo Rhonda with his corny jokes and not-so-subtle advances. Melter as Continental does her best to ignore him and keep the show's decorum as he comes after her with everything from bright red, whistling plastic lips to cheesy come-on lines.

The music is basically karaoke style, with several singers presenting outstanding performances. Angie Todd as Diana Monterey and Samantha Burkard as Wanda Imperial top the hit parade with some very classy renditions including Burkard's 'Heat Wave," and Todd's "Old Black Magic."

The Doo Wop Quartet (Ryan Albrechtson, Tony Davis, Isaiah Reynolds and Jacob Sudbrink) provided some smooth sounds on "Silhouettes" and "In the Still of the Night." A very cute touch was a brief but effective commercial for the 1954 Mercury, delivered by the Doo Wops.

The female version of the quartet (Allison Chicorel, Angie Todd, Samantha Burkard and Briana Ernst) crooned a catchy a capella "Lollipop," complete with Burkard's cheeky "pops."An even more sidesplitting routine was the re-enactment of Lucille Ball's famous candy factory scene in which she must not let an unwrapped candy pass by or she'll be fired. Ethel (Samantha Burkard) and Lucy (Todd) don chef caps and create a hysterical scene of madcap antics as they try to keep up with the fast-moving confections.

Paul Burkard broke up the music with a few comedy bits and broke up his daughter during "You Can't Hurry Love," as he appeared on stage as the becurlered mother in the tune. As Ronnie Clipper, he handled a couple of the anthems from the era - "Who Put the Bomp" and "At the Hop" - with energy and verve.

Davis, the show's director, producer and author, also had several tunes in the show as Eddie Bel Air. He managed the falsettos on some Four Seasons favorites quite well and got rave audience reviews for his "Unchained Melody." During the "Human Jukebox" portion, Davis as Bel Air tried his best to distract Frankie Skyline (Sudbrink) during his tunes, but the effect was distracting to the audience as well.

While the '50s and '60s are filled with icons - from big-finned cars to poodle skirts and saddle shoes - the sets and costumes fell a bit short in reflecting the color and kitsch of the times. A very cool touch was a big screen that hovered over the set and showed old commercials for products such as Dristan headache remedy and American gasoline as well as many other memories of the time.

Though the show contained a couple very noisy set changes, loose choreography and a bit of a dress rehearsal feel on opening night, the audience loved it as many stood and cheered as the cast members made their final bows.

IF YOU GO

Who: Waukesha Civic Theatre

What: "Shake Rattle & Roll"

When: Through Aug. 29

Where: 264 W. Main St., Downtown Waukesha

Tickets/Info: (262) 547-0708, www. waukeshacivictheatre.org