Page 26 Thursday, May 9, 2019 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION Westfield Community Players’ Follies Brings Laughter and Tears By SUSAN MYRILL DOUGHERTY fantasy and heartache. phones, so it is a problem. That was Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Former Weisman Follies beauties evident on opening night with Carlotta, ‘The King of New York’ Comes to WESTFIELD — Reunion. The descend a staircase to the mellifluous played with great relish by Linda word itself can engender fear or an- tenor voice of Roscoe (Ray Correll, who pushed through the num- ticipation, especially in older women. Dobrovolsky) serenading them with ber “I’m Still Here” despite being Cranford In CDC’s Spirited Newsies What should I wear? Do I look fat in “Beautiful Girls.” Because the Westfield drowned out by the orchestra. this? Will that guy I had a crush on stage is so intimate, however, the requi- In Ben’s solo number, “The Road remember me? site grand staircase is missing. You Didn’t Take,” a mournful flute In Follies, with lyrics and songs by The older women are enlivened by accentuates his poignant, wistful re- Stephen Sondheim and book by James memories, and their youthful, ghost- flection. Countering to that is Sally’s Goldman, the story hinges on a re- like young selves glide upstage. “In Buddy’s Eyes” that is almost ironic, union of former vaudeville-era per- “Montage,” features Mary O’Connor since she does not appreciate what she formers that brings about soul-search- Kelly and Jerry Wichinsky in “Rain is singing. She longs for that which she ing for the ageing beauties. Ambi- on the Roof,” Roseanne Christie in cannot have and shows it in the haunt- tiously, the Westfield Community “Ah, Paris” and Karen B. Goldstein ing “Losing My Mind.” A sexy saxo- Players has mounted this musical, in the iconic “Broadway Baby.” The phone lends the right touch there. which opened last Saturday. The set- women all have a unique moment in Sandye Rudnitsky gets her chance ting is the Weismann Theater in New the spotlight individually and then to shine in two numbers. “Could I York City that is ready to be demol- simultaneously share it. Leave You” drips with sarcasm in ished. Unfortunately, during a night Heidi (Lynn Dolce), the oldest biting lyrics that she fairly spits at of reminiscing, the four main charac- Weisman woman, reflects in the beau- Ben. In “Phyllis’ Folly,” wearing a ters find that their lives are almost tiful duet “One More Kiss” with her red-hot teddy and matching boa, Ms. demolished as well. younger self Chloe Gavula. One of Rudnitsky sizzles in the sexy tale of Two couples–Phyllis (Sandye the most energetic numbers of the “Lucy and Jessie.” Rudnitsky) and Ben (Gordon Wiener) night is “Who’s that Woman,” cho- Jon Heron is mesmerizing in “The and Sally (Anne King) and Buddy reographed by Natalie Rothweiler. In Right Girl” and then in “Buddy’s Blues.” (Jon Heron) — were always together it, Stella (Cheryl Federico) urges her The young Sally, Buddy, Phyllis and when the girls were in the Follies. But former castmates to don tap shoes Ben–Cristy Miller, Cory Singer, Katie 30 years of life intervened, and the and join her in the fun number. Direc- Engel and Bobby Marusiefski, respec- now-married couples have not recon- tor Ed Bontempo pulls out all the tively — do a fine job in portraying the nected until this night. While some of stops with amazing costumes and a energy and enthusiasm of the couples the other women perform songs they mirrored disco ball that reflects on from 30 years ago. did “back in the day,” the couples try the ceiling and walls of the theater. Kudos to Producers Kay Macrae to work out their issues. Sally always The cocktail-hour musicians, al- and Steve Lemenille and Directors had a serious crush on Ben and mar- though terrific, under the expert baton Ed Bontempo and Bruce De La Cruz ried Buddy on the rebound after Ben of Musical Director Bruce De La Cruz, for wrangling a gigantic cast of 32 and Phyllis married. The reunion is a are too loud in the opening scene. Only and an orchestra of eight in this tiny night of introspection, truth telling, some of the performers have micro- theater. Christina M. Hinke for The Westfield Leader and The Times HEAR ALL ABOUT IT…Jack Kelly (Shane Long), pictured center, and his band of newsies, deliver a spirited, high-energy production of the musical Newsies on now at CDC Theatre. Newsies runs through May 18 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. CDC is located at 78 Winans Avenue in Cranford. See www.cdctheatre.org for tickets. By CHRISTINA M. HINKE York” opens Act Two with an explo- While Jack is full of ego, his artistic Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times sive energy led by Christopher Abbott side is eventually exposed. In the CRANFORD — CDC’s production and a pack of newsies who get the dramatic scene where Jack’s larger- of Disney’s Broadway musical Newsies crowd sucked right back in to the story than-life illustration of Pulitzer’s is energetic and spirited in both the after intermission. money-grubbing boot squashing the dance and dramatic scenes, and humor- Shane Long as Jack has all the swag- newsies is unveiled, Mr. Long believ- ous in the witty scenes peppered ger and charisma as the lead was writ- ably conveys Jack’s intense emotions throughout. Set in 1899, the story fol- ten. Jack’s love interest, Katherine, about the socio-economic circum- lows newly turned union leader, Jack played by Jenna Rose Ravenda, while a stances he and his peers face. Kelly, who inspires newsies from every minor role, is given a couple standout The set design by Ron Wells uses borough of New York to stand up against songs. Ms. Ravenda makes Katherine scaffolding to extend the height of the media magnate Joseph Pulitzer when shine when she belts out those solos, stage, and the screen in the backdrop he ups the rate of newspapers sold to his bringing the audience to astounding projects black and white images to newsies — the feet-on-the street who applause. And the chemistry between also expand the depth of the stage. peddle “papes” to the public. Jack and Katherine heat up the room. Those creative techniques help to cre- Newsies’s Director John Menter and Katherine, a social columnist for a ate a sense of volume onstage, in the Choreographer Amanda Grace use of newspaper, takes a crack at her first local community theatre. It’s a testa- the whole stage delivers full, pulsing hard news story, by interviewing the ment that local theatre can bring big- dance sequences that showcases the newsies and telling of their struggle musicals to the small stage, and through dancers’ athletic capabilities in the con- to make a living, in a time when one Susan M. Dougherty for The Westfield Leader and The Times ingenuity, direction, casting, choreog- BEAUTIFUL GIRLS...At the top of the Stephen Sondheim show Follies that opened last Saturday night, Rosco (Ray tinuous flips, leaps, back hand springs newsie could eat for two days on 10 raphy, props, lighting and sound can Dobrovolsky) serenades the women who were once Ziegfeld Follies-type showgirls, while the ghosts of their youth appear and more, and their rooted techniques cents. After her story breaks, Pulitzer deliver the intent. CDC is truly bring- in the background. The former stars have gathered for one last reunion that brings sorrow and nostalgia mingled with truth. in ballet, jazz and tap. The tap routine squashes any further stories on the ing some “Extra, Extra” talent to its The Westfield Community Players’ production, directed by Ed Bontempo and produced by Kay Macrae and Steve Lemenille, to the renowned song “King of New subject in all the city’s newspapers. local stage in Cranford. continues on Friday, May 10, and Saturday May 11, and May 17 to 19. Spring 2019 April 24 - May 20 Rialto NewVision Theater (%URDG6WUHHW:HVWѹHOG Plenty of seating...screening in 2 auditoriums Tuesday, May 14 Monday, May 20 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Tix at www.jccnj.org or Film Festival Hotline at 908-889-8800 x208. live up 0DGHSRVVLEOHE\IXQGVIURPWKH8QLRQ&RXQW\2ƯFHRI&XOWXUDODQG +HULWDJH$ƪDLUVDSDUWQHURIWKH1HZ-HUVH\6WDWH&RXQFLORQWKH$UWV.