BYE BYE BIRDIE . . . bye bye

BYE BYE BIRDIE
“Bye Bye”

Reviewed by: Sandi "D"


After nearly 50 years, musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie made its way back to the Great White Way. It’s an imploding tongue-in-cheek rendering of silly and sillier. That’s not to say, that it isn’t an audience pleaser in some ways! One can’t help but laugh at the over-wrought vaudevillian antics of loveable mime Bill Irwin (Harry MacAfee), the role originally played by Paul Lynde, or the smothering Jewish mother syndrome of Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson) who would rather lay down on the tracks and divide her mink coat into three’s than see her sonny boy John Stamos (Albert Peterson) marry his secretary-girlfriend Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez).

If you recall, Albert was originally played by Dick Van Dyke and although Mr. Stamos gives it his best shot, it appears as if he may have watched the original version too many times and absorbed too much of Van Dyke characteristics that he hoped he could channel but instead comes out looking rather clownish. He plays the showbiz agent who manages teen heart-throb Conrad Birdie. Albeit, he does a pretty good singing job on “Put On a Happy Face” considering this isn’t his prime talent.

Gina Gershon, a fine actress, is miscast as Rose Alvarez, and although she stays on pitch it’s a frail attempt. It was Chita Rivera who originally played this part. Both she and Mr. Stamos have neither the singing nor dancing skills needed for the roles. Bill Irwin makes up for his singing by clowning. Mrs. McAfee (Dee Hoty) and son played by Neil McCaffrey are fine.

The story line is simple but one feels a comic book has come to life on stage. Nolan Gerard Funk as Conrad Birdie, is underplayed and needs a shot of adrenaline most of the time, but at least can sing and gyrate as needed for the screaming teenies who adore him in Sweet Apple, Ohio. He’s been drafted and his send off is a kiss from fan club admirer Kim McAfee (originally played by sex kitten Ann-Margaret) who is more realistically portrayed by Allie Trimm who can sing, a 15 year old whose steady, Hugo, played by Matt Doyle becomes extremely jealous. Does this sound familiar? Think Elvis Presley.

Color coordinated families in bright colored 50’s costumes (by Gregg Barnes) are eye appealing, and the set including moving train car on tracks (by Andrew Jackness) works well. Some of the production numbers are more than likeable; “The Telephone Hour” performed on a jungle gym, “One Last Kiss” fun and campy; nice harmonic arrangements by the Bar Quartet (John Treacy Egan, David McDonald, JC Montgomery, Timothy Shew) on “Baby Talk To Me.” But, alas, the basic choreographic and directorial skills of Robert Longbottom seemed to be lacking in totality giving a disconnected feeling to the production.

Bye Bye Birdie is produced by the Roundabout Theater Company. It debuted at the newly renovated Henry Miller Theatre on West 43rd Street, a comfortable and well designed theatre that will make future audiences very happy.

Unfortunately, this show has had an abbreviated life span and so it’s bye bye to Birdie!