Fire Island Sun - Fire Island's Newest Webzine

GLAY: TRIP THROUGH THE PAST IS A BLAST

Photos by Lorraine (thank you)

The Webster definitions for “glee”: Jubilant delight; joy

and “gay”: Showing or characterized by cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement; merry. Bright or lively

And the APCG production, directed by Laura Spadafino, choreographed by Edrie Ferdun and costumed by the performers themselves, with Matt in the booth, and Arthur backstage, brought those definitions to life.

Timing couldn’t have been more perfect! If ever there was a moment to go back to a happier time for pure enjoyment with the comfort of familiarity it was after Hurricane Irene here on Fire Island. Yes, we essentially escaped the bullet but not the trauma associated with it – due to the endless media hype we suffered the anguish if not the reality.

INCREDIBLE ACCESSORIES KEY TO PRODUCTION Each performers had not only to learn their songs and choreographic touches, but remember a staggering variety of mini costume changes .Through a variety of accessories: Harlequin glasses to “shades”, leather jackets, fringy vests, white boots, heels, sandals, neck scarves, head scarves, bandannas, head bands, hoop earrings, dangling earrings, beads, jeans, red lipstick, pink lipstick– and wigs from beehives to flips, leather belts, chain belts, all left to the performers themselves – the basic black dresses time traveled through the decades till replaced by jeans, bell bottoms….did I leave anything out?

As long as it took to recognize the singers under layers of expert makeup – it took slightly longer for me to realize that what I thought was lip synching was actually live vocalizing to a pre recorded musical back drop – each singer sounded so good and so authentic it was hard to believe – especially Sally Ann who had the most difficult “The Word Game” song

Later, when I asked Wendy how it felt to be in makeup heels and a dress she said “not that bad, just uncomfortable”

Some of the songs (over 20? I lost count – couldn’t stop to write them all down else I would miss the next)

Big Girls Don’t Cry, Up On The Roof, My Boyfriend’s Back, In His Kiss, California Girls, Reach Out (I’ll Be There), Jimmy Mack, One Fine Day, Pretty Woman, Love the One You’re With, Stayin’ Alive, I’m a Believer, Listen to the Music, Mamma Mia, Boogie Woogie Oogie, AIn’t No Valley Lower….

Just writing the titles makes you wanna sing them -

“What are records?” (Zach & Alexandra Kelly-Spadafino)

Here’s one

Martha (in her best Glee Sue jogging suit) takes Zach & Alice on a trip though the 60’s and ‘70’s

(and what a treat for the audience to go down memory lane with them)

The Lezbaritones? Sherri, Dale Lally, Lana, James Lyons

Susan Freedner: “Diana”

The Cherry Ho’s?: Sherri Rase, Wendy Lewis, Sally Ann Piacentino, Lee Sharmat, Lana Kelly

Mamas & the Poppas: Barbara Hirsch, Linda Dickerman, Pat Wagnis, Lynn Belensky “Words of Love”

Denise Harbin: Elvis

Coco Love – Diana Ross (lip synching the talking part brought the house down)

Also representing the Queens: Bella and Demi Tasse

The Shirelles: “Momma Told Me There’d Be Days Like This”

Lana Kelly: “Please Mr. Postman”

Lee Sharmat: “Mama Said”

MIX ‘N MATCH SOLOS, DUETS

Frankly took me so long to recognize these beauties in hair, make-up dresses, heels that I couldn’t credit their songs. I was severely derided when I thought they were lip-synching – they were NOT! Each had to learn the words to all their songs, the backgrounds were authentically reproduced electronically …but NOT them!

It was a compliment!!!