Photo courtesy of the ISU School of Performing Arts.
Madison Long
Life Editor
“They caught Billy Rae behind the locker room smoking,” says the peachy-polka-dot Missy, nodding her head to the audience.
“Ew,” chimes Suzy, her curled ponytail falling in her pearls.
The two share a look before taking a deep breath, “Tabacco can kill and make you ill.”
Both girls giggle before running back to the stage, preparing for their next number.
Missy pulls out a small “cootie-catcher,” opening and closing the folds.
“L – O – V – E, that spells love,” the girls chant.
“Oh! My turn first!” Suzy steps forward, her blue dress flowing behind her.
The girls re-arrange their formation, Cindy Lou pushing to the front and gripping her pink hearted microphone. She fluffs her hair and smacks her red lipstick, casually pushing Betty Jean behind her with her hip.
“As a performer, this show is a marathon,” says Cindy Lou actress Cambry Henline, a sophomore double-majoring in theatre and pre-dental hygiene. “Imagine dancing for 2 hours with no break while also singing and being in heels.”
Set in the gymnasium of the 1958 Springfield Super Senior High School prom, the jukebox musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” has sock-hopped its way into the hearts of ISU community with its opening week performances in the Bistline Theatre.
With a polka-dotted, retro and pastel double-cast, the Roger Bean musical features a live orchestra and over 30 classic songs from the 1950s and 60s, including “Lollipop,” “Stupid Cupid” and “It’s my party.” Previously seen as Ebenezzer Scrooge in ISU’s “A Christmas Carol,” NYC guest Gregory Jon Phelps directed the around two hour show.
Act 1 follows the original prom, and the most important three questions to these girls – “Are you in love,” “Is it someone we know” and “Is he here tonight?” With cat fights between lucky lips Cindy Lou and bubble-blower Betty Jean, a budding secret romance of teacher’s pet Missy and Suzy’s dreams of becoming prom queen, the audience will be sucked into the Springfield prom.
Betty Jean’s green gown ruffles around her legs as she narrowly eyes the crowd as she carefully ascends the stairs. She examines each prom queen ballot gathered, smudging the answers.
Her eyes fall back in her head as she reads the next one.
“Who over here voted for Missy?” BJ falls into typical mom-stance – one hand on her hip, the other wagging a disappointed finger.
A lone audience member raises their hand and opens their mouth to respond, but BJ has already gripped the paper in her hand, crumpled it and shoved it down her throat.
She huffs at the audience before running to the other side of the theatre.
“Count them Miss McPhepherson!” Betty Jean reels by an older woman in a purple floral dress. She skids to a brief stop and tosses the ballots in the air. The papers cascade down the aisles, sticking indignity to the staircase railing.
Act 2 follows the 1968 reunion, revisiting old friendships, new loves, troubles in paradise and adding twists around every medley.
“As the director Greg Phelps says, the show has a lot of ‘wiggle room,’” says Mr. Lee actor Hunter Angus, a junior majoring in history. “That means the cast has a lot of opportunity to have fun, improvise a bit, and infuse the show with their own unique personality and voice. This all leads to the show brimming with character that is so distinct to Idaho State University.”
With a double-cast for each character despite Mr. Lee, which Angus says he brought a unique, silent general awkwardness to the show, shows between the pink and blue cast vary in jokes, emotional beats, and character dynamics.
The pink cast – performing February 27, March 5 and March 7 – includes Madi Kerr (Betty Jean), Cambry Henline (Cindy Lou), Kinley Friess (Missy) and Payton Carter (Suzy). The blue cast – performing February 28 and March 6 – includes Dio Hadley (Betty Jean), Maxxia Mabee (Cindy Lou), Ame Chesley (Missy) and Taylor Griffiths (Suzy).
Work for the show varies between actor and actress, although many prioritize voice care and physical practice. With practices around 15 hours per week of music, dancing and acting, the actors involved worked with the various student-run costume, lighting, mic, directing, music and conducting teams.
“I have never seen such a well oiled machine as the ISU theatre department,” says Kinley Friess, a sophomore majoring in speech language pathology. “Almost everything is done by students. It’s such a collaborative experience that makes working in our space possible.”
See the show one more time this weekend – March 5, 6, and 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Stephens Box Office or online at isu.edu/tickets.