Highlights of the music revue included the songs (and some wonderfully bad jokes) by the “Take Note” barbershop quartet of Al Blankenship, Mike Barger, Charlie Martin and Dan Templin. Martin Underhill delivered his best Perry Como style charm with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” - and wowed us with his son, Jon, in a duet of the powerful Leonard Cohen Hallelujah, cleaned up with Christian lyrics.
The cuteness factor was turned up to 11 with dancers from Lori Arendson’s Rising Star Studio and the members of the Cherub Choir of the First United Methodist Church of Eaton Rapids, under the direction of Jean Burk.
The Charlie Brown Christmas was nostalgic and fun. Charlie (Steven Edgerly) spun his tale of Christmas woe with the help of the overbearing Lucy (Jean Burk) effervescent sister Sally (Nicole Martin) and the wonderfully childlike blanket wielder, Linus (Christopher Verhil). Jake Meier inhabited the cool and quirky Snoopy, complete with over-decorated dog house. Travis Hunt was a delightfully dirty Pig Pen, aided by a fun costume (Julie Dodds) that included a clever built-in dust cloud, and some real “dust” (cocoa, I hope?) enhancing a cute, dirty snowman. Rounding out the gang were Julie Hartley as naturally curly Frieda, Kat Koehn as nay-saying Violet, Austin Verstreater as Lucy-avoiding Schroeder, and Caleb Liggett, strutting cool dance moves as Shermy.
We missed two numbers in the lineup because we chose the one show that was missing the talented Kelly-Sandula Gruner who is slotted for two songs that are sure to enhance next week’s performances - all matinees - Dessert at 1:30; show at 2pm - bring the kids! Call 517-599-2779 for reservations.
http://www.starlightdinnertheatre.com
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