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Dreamcatching with the Marvelous Wonderettes


With two members of the Rotary Club of Marietta, Brian Clotfelter and Jeff Cooper, among the four founders of the Marietta Theatre Company, it was a given that Rotary would have a strong attendance at the company’s hilarious musical production this April of “The Marvelous Wonderettes” directed by Elizabeth Weaver and performed in the Lyric Studio on the Square. The latest production dating from 2008 of this long running, off-Broadway hit by Roger Bean has two acts.

It is a story about prom night in 1959 for four girls at Springfield High School; Missy, Suzy, Cindy Lou and Betty Jean. In Act 1, these Wonderettes are attired in outfits traditionally interpreted for Missy in orange, Suzy in blue, Cindy Lou in pink and Betty Jean in green. Pressed to perform for the prom at the last minute, the girls sing and dance one smash musical hit of the era after another, including Lollipop! and Dream Lover—all of which supported the prom’s theme, “Marvelous Dreams.” To catch their dreams, the Wonderettes use an elaborately inscribed page folded into four fortune-telling, miniature pyramids called a “cootie-catcher.” Act 2 recounts the girl’s reunion ten years later.

Most from the RC of Marietta enjoyed the Sunday matinee from four-seat caberet-style tables arranged around the stage. Joe and Jo Desantis and Dale and Barbara Covington took in the show on the next Thursday. That evening, just before showtime, Missy came to Joe’s table and asked him to be Mr. Lee, the Wonderette’s theatrical leader. During the show, Joe was called on stage and thankfully serenaded by the grateful girls. Joe’s impromptu, walk-on performance was wildly applauded by the audience when the Wonderettes and all the supporting cast took final bows.

Posted by Dale Covington
May 8, 2018

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