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 #1 Hits of the 60's
On Saturday evening, January 16, 2010 at the new South Dade
Senior High School, Homestead Community Concerts presented #1
Hits of the 60’s. What a decade of music! Who can forget The
Four Seasons, Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, The
5th Dimension, Petula Clark, Neil Sedaka, Mamas and the Papas,
Ray Charles - the list goes on and on. From the opening medley
to the finale, this show transported us back in time. The sets,
state-of-the-art light, picture, and sound systems, the talented
young singers, dancers, and, of course, the "groovy" costumes,
are all captured in this "hip" and "far-out" production on tour
from Branson, Missouri.
#1 Hits of the 60’s from Branson, Missouri is now in its 8th
season where it was voted one of the top ten shows. Every year
the group does as many as 280 shows at the Branson Caravelle
Theatre on Highway 76. You might think this many shows would
tire them out. The performance by Jeanna Kilbane, Lee Anne
Matthews, Amber Campbell, Scott Sartin, Josh Barnhart, and Tony
Turner Saturday night said the answer to the question was a
resounding: “No Way!”
After a “Dancing In The Streets” opening, we were treated to
“The Name Game” using names of several patrons in the audience.
This was followed by a medley of Juke Box favorites: “Up, Up,
and Away” (5th Dimension), “This Magic Moment” (J. and the
Americans), “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” (The Righteous
Brothers), “Respect” (Aretha Franklin), “I Can’t Stop Lovin’
You” (Ray Charles), “Runaway” (Dale Shannon), “Monday, Monday”
(Mamas and the Pappas), “I’m a Believer” (The Monkeys), “Pretty
Woman” (Roy Orbison), “Downtown” (Petula Clark), “Let the Sun
Shine” (from Hair), and others.
Lee Currie was pulled from the audience, dressed up with
love-beads, headband, and frills and on the spot was
incorporated as a hippie into the song “These Boots Were Made
for Walking”. Lee kept the beads and rumor has it that he was
promised a date with Jeanna.
Next was a scene from the Malt Shop. The characters included
Barby ( the blond giggler), Angel (the city girl), Venus (the
pot-head), a nerd, Mr. Cool, and a nice guy. There were some
really really corny jokes, hilarious put-ons and song like:
“Kind of a Drag”, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”, “I Will Follow
You”, “Johnny Angel”, “I Feel Good”, and “Goin’ Out of My Head”.
Now the audience got to perform. We stood, got several
mini-dance lessons and to tunes such as “Do You Love Me?”, Dance
to the Music”, “Do the Locomotion”, “Peppermint Twist”, “Let’s
Do the Twist” did the Mashed Potatoe, the Watusi, the Alligator,
the Jerk, the Swim, the Batman, and last but not least the
Twist.
After Intermission three audience members: Ed Meyers and Ausy
from Miami, and Ralph Cole from Homestead were contestants on
The Game Show where they heard short sound clips and tried to
name the 60’s TV show it came from. Our Homestead audience
cheered as Ralph (from Homestead) was declared the winner.
OK. Now it is contest time for you readers. Who performed and
recorded the following: “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”,
“Mister Postman”, Cherie Baby”, “One Fine Day”, “He’s So Fine”,
“Little Surfer Girl”, “To Do Run Run”, “Stop in the Name of
Love”, and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. How did you do?
Naturally our 60’s hip audience got all of them!
Next was a medley of song from the February 1964 “British
Invasion” group, The Beatles: “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, “Can’t
Buy Me Love”, “It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night”, “Yesterday”, “I
Get By With a Little Help from My Friends”, and “Hey Jude”. Do
you remember their performance on the Ed Sullivan Show?
The last section was a bit more serious. Our vets in the
audience were recognized. Cast member Jeanna (US Army Specialist
Jeanna Kilbane, 2002-2006 duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom)
narrated as (on a huge screen) we watched a slide show of scenes
from Vietnam and Iraq. Do you remember: “Ask not what your
country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country”.
As we saw references to John F.Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and
Bobby Kennedy, we heard the song “Abraham, Martin, and John”
modified to “Bobby, Martin, and John”.
A closing observation. During the intermission, the entire cast
made themselves available in the pit area where they sold and
signed photos and CDs. But they also returned to the pit after
the show where they just mingled and interacted with the
audience. This was a nice touch to the end of a most enjoyable
program.
Mark your calendars. Saturday, February 6, 2010 Homestead
Community Concerts presents From Galway to Broadway. The Irish
romantic Ciaràn Sheenan on the Broadway stage sound like a
winner. For tickets and further concert information, call (305)
235-8818 or (305) 253-6620.
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