Theatre Review: Theatre Three's 'The Marvelous Wonderettes'

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

photos by Brian Hoerger

Theatre Three’s The Marvelous Wonderettes is a Winner!

The Marvelous Wonderettes, directed by the talented Linda May, runs through March 26 at Theatre Three. This family-friendly, two-act musical features more than 30 doo-wop and R&B hits from the 1950s and ’60s and provides lively, sentimental, escapist entertainment, something COVID-fatigued audiences seem to need right now.

Photo by Brian HoergerThe musical opens in the gymnasium of Springfield High School on the night of the 1958 senior prom. “Marvelous Dreams,” the prom’s theme, is prominently displayed on a large banner. The first act is all bubbles, bubble gum, and butthead jokes. Sure, there are a few petty arguments, fits of jealousy, and rivalries, but nothing earth-shattering occurs. However, Act Two takes place a decade later at the high school reunion hosted in the same gymnasium. This act is grittier and more dramatic since it deals with adulthood’s harsh realities, including shattered dreams, broken marriages, and tragic loss.

The all-girl quartette consists of Betty Jean (Cassidy Rose O’Brien), the class clown; Cindy-Lou (Noelle McLeer), the wannabe prom queen; Missy (Kate Keating), the often prim and proper, sometimes shy, sometimes bossy peacemaker of the group; and Suzy (Ashley Brooke), the giddy, gum chewing, easy-going one. These characters are costumed in their signature color: Missy in orange, Suzy in blue, Betty Jean in green, and Cindy-Lou in pink. 

Like most shows of this genre, this jukebox musical, written and created by Roger Bean, has bare-bones dialogue and a simple story that unfolds through popular songs. Under the astute musical direction of Cesar Flores, the four multi-talented leads, who were on stage the entire show, delivered each song with powerful vocals and pitch-perfect harmonies.

Ms. Keating plays the bespectacled, prissy Missy with just the right amount of quirkiness, awkward body poses, convoluted facial expressions, and nerdiness that this part demands. She’s most convincing as a lovesick teenager pining over one of her teachers, Mr. Lee. This show calls for some audience participation, and a member of the audience is brought up on stage to play the non-speaking role of her love interest. Ms. Keating’s powerhouse vocals were revealed when she belted out the slow, pop ballad, “Secret Love.”  

Ms. McLeer is believable in the role of Cindy-Lou, the egotistical, vain, at times vulnerable teenager who callously steals Betty Jean’s boyfriend. Ms. McLeer gave a riveting performance during “Allegheny Moon,” and her soulful rendition of “Son of a Preacher Man,” an R&B song with strong gospel overtones and striking instrumentals, was one of the highlights of the evening.  

Cassidy Rose O’Brien aced the role of Betty Jean with her perfect sense of comedic timing. Whether seizing someone else’s microphone, obnoxiously blowing bubbles, secretly lifting one of the other girl’s dresses, or fumbling with a hula hoop, she steals every scene with her crazy antics. Her knockout vocals and physical comedic skills were apparent with her stellar delivery of “Lipstick on Your Collar.” Her more sensitive side was displayed with her moving version of “That’s When the Tears Start.”

Suzy is the character who changes the most in the show. As the high school girl, she is playful, happy-go-lucky, and hopeful, but a decade later, big with child, she is hormonal, moody, and pessimistic. Ashley Brooke as Suzy is riotous throughout, but her dance moves and gestures during the R&B hit song “Respect” were over-the-top hysterical. She showed her sweet and sultry voice during “Stupid Cupid,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” and “Rescue Me.”

Photo by Brian HoergerA big round of applause goes out to the live band. Visible on stage throughout the show were Cesar Flores, piano, Dave Grudzinski, bass, Don Larsen, drums, John DeRicco, guitar, and Bill Kinslow, sax.

The outstanding choreography by Sari Feldman was comedic at times, always energetic, and dynamic where it needed to be.

Extraordinary lighting effects on the part of Robert W. Henderson, Jr. greatly added to the overall success of this show, from the dramatic spotlights on the individual singers to the festive lights circling the theater at the finale.

The realistic set, depicting a high school gymnasium with the requisite Boys’ and Girls’ locker rooms on either side, was the brainchild of Randall Parsons. 

Appropriate period hairdos, including Suzy’s long, blonde ponytail for the 1950s look and the infamous 1960s bouffant hairstyles in the second act, added to the show’s realism. Also, the costume designs by Ronald Green III – for the prom, short, full-skirted evening gowns with crinoline petticoats underneath to poof them out and stilettos, and for the reunion, miniskirts and white go-go boots – added a layer of panache to the show.

This rousing, nostalgic, fun evening of musical theater, complete with plenty of audience participation, makes Theatre Three’s The Marvelous Wonderettes a must-see production.  

For tickets, please visit their website at www.theatrethree.com. For more information, call 631-928-9100.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guilds. She is the author of Grant Me a Higher Love, Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships and Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.