Life Could Be a Dream: Musical. Written & Directed by Roger Bean. Music Direction by Brandon Adams. Choreography by Lee Martino. Center REPertory Company, Lesher Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive in downtown Walnut Creek. 925.943.7469 or www.CenterREP.org. August 29 – October 5, 2014
Life Could be a Dream is a smash hit at Center Rep. [rating:5] (5 of 5 stars)
In reference to musical genres it seems that a generational gap is common. In Life Could be a Dream the time is the 60s and the place is Springfield, a middle-class America town where the Democrats sit in the back pews at church. That dichotomy is suggested when the unseen mother yells down to the cellar playroom (fantastic set by Michael Carnahan), “you’re not going to play doo-wop in this house” or something to that effect. Never fear, the fantastic five cast members rock the auditorium with an exuberant musical tribute to that era that eventually morphed into rock-n-roll.
Along with the superb cast Center Rep has brought along the multitalented Roger Bean from New York to direct his opus glorifying the doo-wop era. Yes, it is that Roger Bean who wrote the fantastically successful The Marvelous Wonderettes, and its sequels, that are still playing in theaters across the country. His methodology is deceptively simple by taking an elementary plot, adorn it with songs that forward the action gradually working in conflict and ending on a happy note. He has selected a plethora of doo-wop songs to die for starting with “Sh-Boom[Life Could be a Dream] working in the famous ones “Tears on My Pillows”, “Fools Fall in Love”, “Only You”, “I Only Have Eyes for You”, “Sunday Kind of Love of Love”, “Unchained Melody”, “The Magic Touch” along other lesser known ones to keep everyone dancing and singing through this ‘must see’ 2 hour and 10 minute (including an intermission) show.
Four of the characters are Springfield High School grads and former members of the Glee Club “Crooning Cupcakes.” That signifies that they all have singing talent. Unemployed Denny is putting together a doo-wop group to compete in a talent show with the winner getting a one year world tour gig. Initially it is a two man group, Denny and inexperienced Eugene (Tim Homsley). Enter fellow Glee Club member Wally (Jerry Lee) who joins the group suggesting they get “Big” Earl owner of Big Stuff Auto to sponsor them and pay the $50 entrance fee.
It seems that “Big “ Earl can’t make their audition and his daughter Lois (Sharon Retkerk) is sent to check them out. As one 
would expect when a beautiful girl enters into a male bastion there is going to be conflict and there is. That conflict escalates when she suggests her father’s head mechanic Skip, raised on the wrong side of town, with his talent for singing dancing and guitar playing be brought in making the group a quartet. How about a name? Ok, let’s be “Denny and the Dreamers.”
Early on you can guess the rest of the story but before the end you will be entertained with terrific doo-wop numbers, charming humor and fine acting by all who are members of Equity. One local favorite is Ryan Drummond who has an enviable CV, fine singing voice, is a great dancer and shares a role in the ensemble numbers. Beautiful Sharon Rietkerk’s name appears as lead actor throughout the bay Area and is a dream in the eye-popping dresses (Costume Design by Bobby Pearce ) created for her. Did I mention she is a whirlwind of a singer and dancer?
Most of the humor is divided between Tim Homsley and Jerry Lee with Homsley the audience favorite who grows from an insecure, inexperienced nice guy who had been rejected by Lois in the 4th grade into an integral group member. Both Lee and Homsley have their individual share of the spotlight in solo numbers.
Last but hardly least is hunky Derek Keeling, imported from New York to play the role Skip who is Lois’ love interest. The stage radiates sex during some of his numbers. He like Drummond fit in the ensemble mode when required.
The total production is enhanced by the artistic crew’s efforts with spot-on direction by Roger Bean, choreography by Lee Martino and the unseen band led by musical director Brandon Adams.
Recommendations taken from previous reviews that fit this production to a T: Spectacular, affectionate, high-flying, fabulous, delightful, idiotically infectious etc. and is pure nostalgia.
Finale (l-r) Ryan Drummond, Derek Keeling, Jerry Lee and Tim Homsley
CAST: Ryan Drummond, Tim Homsley, Derek Keeling, Jerry Lee, and Sharon Rietkerk .
CREATIVE TEAM: Written and Directed by Roger Bean; Music Direction by Brandon Adams; Choreographed by Lee Martino; Set Design by Michael Carnahan; Costume Design by Bobby Pearce, Lighting Design by Kurt Landisman; Sound Design by Jeff Mockus; Stage Managed by Kathleen J. Parsons
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
