KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News SourceDean Reviews "New Wrinkles Takes on Broadway"

Dean Reviews "New Wrinkles Takes on Broadway"

Our performing arts correspondent Dean Rhodus stopped by Thursday morning with his review of "New Wrinkles Takes on Broadway."

The production runs at Fresno City College from now until June 19th. Tickets are $16.

New Wrinkles rekindles feelings "Younger than Springtime"

Want to see living proof of the new adage "Sixty is the new forty"?  Want to just feel good about life?  Want to catch yourself just smiling and smiling?  Go see the New Wrinkles offering of their built-from-the-ground-up show as they take on the wonderful moments and melodies of Broadway. 

I say built from the ground up because they conceive, write, direct, choreograph and breathe life into two hours of "bet you thought this was going to be just another ‘not bad for Fresno'" performance.  It's sort of allegorical that people in their prime (and most beautiful flowering time of life) are giving to us from a place of such understanding and perspective. 

Think I'm making too much of a local performance featuring people over 55?  Think again.  Each and every song takes on a whole new meaning because you know these performers really understand these lyrics.  They've lived them.  There is a certain osmosis between performer and audience if one is attuned to this insight.  Very touching.  Forget the different levels of skill factor and expertise.  You know how it feels when someone at Thanksgiving, whom you love and respect, tells a story about you that happened when you were little?  Or when you watch the hula dancers in Hawaii.  The young ones are pretty, but the older ones have so much more sexiness and depth than their younger counter-parts.  Expect that when you go to this show.

There are several components that bring this all to pass;  Beginning with director Fred Bologna, to company choreographers Judy Jo Wilson, David Bonetto and Steve Pepper, writer Don LaMont, vocal coach/musical director Dede Nibler, to the disciplined little band which accompanied most of the numbers.  (There is some canned music which blends nicely with that which is live.) 

All of the participants are to be roundly applauded.  It was amazing to watch how many hats these people wear.  Don La Mont not only wrote the show (informative, funny and clever) but sang as well.  Dede Nibler not only was vocal coach/musical director, but she also sang in a dozen ensembles, conducted, danced, played bass in the orchestra and delivered a show stopping solo.  Whew!

From stage hands, lighting and sound techs, to the design and execution of a very fine back drop for the set, we appreciate the ENORMOUS amount of energy funneled into this project.  The Fresno City College Theater is a great venue for this show, but I recommend that you hurry to get tickets.  This one promises to be full for every performance; a fitting reward for all the hard work and blending of voices and talents.

On a personal note, the older I get I realize that life, most often, is a matter of one's choices.  I want my children to think of me as someone who tried hard until the last delicious drop.  It's comforting to see so many others who join me in that thinking.  That is one way of ensuring that it all, like this company and its productions, will have been positively worth it!