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Once again an opening night audience at Artpark gave a musical a standing ovation. This time, it was for Barry Manilow's "Copacabana," a Western New York premier. The production is a winner, with finely-tuned direction from Brother Augustine Towey, wonderful choreography, excellent performances and extremely colorful, splashy costuming.
The musical is based on Manilow's opening line of his 1978 Grammy Award-winning song. Music is by Manilow with lyrics by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman. The plot centers around Stephen, a struggling songwriter who dreams about the famous Copacabana nightclub in New York, during the 1940s after World War II. The audience travels along with him. We meet Lola, a showgirl whose dream it is to be a Copa Girl. But she's as naive as can be. However, with some help from Tony, a musician and bartender at the Copa, her dream is realized. Enter the villainous Rico, who plies her with champagne and takes her to the Tropicana in Havana.
The cast is excellent, many of them graduates of the theater program at Niagara University who return to the area as seasoned professionals. Tony Sperry plays the lead role of Stephen/Tony. He has spent 12 years performing in New York City and is excellent here. On television, Sperry has been seen in "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and even "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Julie Burdick, a senior at Niagara, is wonderful as Lola. Not only can she really sing and dance, she's a good character actress. When needed, her Lola is naive and klutzy. In past seasons at Artpark, Burdick has played the roles of Maria in "West Side Story," Sandy in "Grease" and Iris in "Fame."
Natalie Slipko returns to Artpark as Gladys Murphy, the cigarette girl at the Copa who befriends Lola. Slipko gives the character personality and presence. She too is a Niagara University theater graduate, who has played in a host of productions throughout the country over the years.
Louis Colaiacovo's performance as Copa owner Sam is hilarious. He is constantly chewing at a cigar as his toupee falls askew. Since graduating from Niagara University, Colaiacovo has been on the road with national touring productions of "Titanic," "Footloose" and "1776." Paschal Frisina III also stands out as the extremely villainous Rico Castelli.
Kudos to choreographer Lynne Kurdziel-Formato for some wonderful dance numbers. Scenery, and especially costumes, are excellent. Bright colors are used: Combinations of oranges, shocking pinks and yellows in one dance number are memorable. In another, plain Rosie-the-Riveter costumes change into shiny red devil costumes, complete with tails and horns.
In all, Artpark's "Copacabana" is a lighthearted, very enjoyable production, and one we haven't seen many times over. It remains onstage through Aug. 18.
In the mood for a little "Nunsense"? You can find it onstage at Niagara University Theatre-at-the-Church (formerly Artpark-at-the-Church, 415 Plain Street in Lewiston).
"Sister Amnesia's Country Western Nunsense Jamboree," the third in a series of four "Nunsense"musicals by Dan Goggin, is a collaboration of Niagara University's theater department and the Niagara Summer Fine Arts Program.
Those who have seen other "Nunsense" musicals will remember Sister Amnesia, who lost her memory when a cross fell on her head way back in the first production. Her dream has always been to become a country singer, and in this production that dream is realized. She records an album titled "I Could Have Gone to Nashville," and is on the road promoting it along with friends from her convent, Sister Robert Anne, Sister Mary Leo and supervisor Sister Mary Wilhelm, as well as a new character, Father Virgil Trott, a Franciscan who has his own country radio show.
There are only five in the cast of this small musical and only one setting, a barnyard, but it is the perfect small musical for the small stage of the former church. The cast is enthusiastic, talented and young. All are either students at Niagara University or recent graduates of the theater program there, with the exception of Kevin Kennedy (Virgil Trott), who is entering his sophomore year at SUNY Buffalo. Melissa Seifert plays Sister Mary Paul Amnesia and Erin Chase is Sister Mary Wilhelm. Michele M. Maier stands out as the street-wise Sister Robert Anne, as does Natalie Sabo as the dancing novitiate Sister Mary Leo. Director Tim Ward keeps the pace moving quickly from one song to another. Musical numbers include "Do Unto Others," "We Miss You, Patsy Cline," "A Technicolor Woman," "A Cowgirl from Canarsie," "Mini-Pearls of Wisdom," and "Convent Camera." The music director is Donald Shrimpton and the choreography is by Gracie Schupp.
"Sister Amnesia's Country Western Nunsense Jamboree" remains onstage each Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and each Sunday at 2:30 p.m., through Aug. 25. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or through Niagara University's theater department at 286-8483, and also at the Lewiston Visitor Center on Center Street.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | August 13 2002 |