Entertainment

Drury Lane delivers impressive production of dated 'Birdie'

Posted January 24, 2016 6:45 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Teenagers gossip in the song "The Telephone Hour" in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs through Sunday, March 13. Courtesy of Brett Beiner/Drury Lane Theatre

Don't be surprised if Drury Lane Theatre's impressive, stylish staging of "Bye Bye Birdie" inspires mixed feelings.

On one hand, this 1960 musical is both a nostalgic romp and a timely reflection of our current celebrity obsession.

But "Bye Bye Birdie" - which spoofs an Elvis Presley-type rocker and his screaming teenage fans - hasn't aged well, relying on sexist stereotypes and casual racism for its humor.

Thankfully director/choreographer Tammy Mader prods her super-talented cast to approach the material with a certain knowing archness around Michael Stewart's cartoonish script.

With glossy and energetic staging of catchy numbers such as "Put on a Happy Face," "The Telephone Hour" and "A Lot of Livin' To Do," Mader helps to mitigate questions as to why Drury Lane lavished so much attention on a grade-B show.

"Bye Bye Birdie" centers around Rose Alvarez (a vivacious Michelle Aravena), the resourceful secretary and long-suffering love interest of Albert Peterson (a partially successful Matt Crowle), a cash-strapped New York songwriter and agent to the rock star Conrad Birdie (a hunky Jason Michael Evans).

When Conrad gets drafted into the army, Rose devises a nationwide media songwriting scheme for the crooner's farewell kiss to be planted on a plucked-from-obscurity Ohio teenage fan named Kim MacAfee (a winsome Leryn Turlington) on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Complications abound from a collection of characters, including Albert's domineering and meddling mother (Catherine Smitko with polished comic timing), Kim's uptight father (a wonderfully zany George Andrew Wolff) and Kim's teenage boyfriend (a jealous Ryan Stajmiger). The squealing and hopelessly devoted teenage fan Ursula Merkle (Stephanie Hansen) is also a comical diversion.

Mader has marvelously cast "Bye Bye Birdie," with Aravena shining as Rose and wowing the audience with sultry dance moves - particularly the comical "Shriner's Ballet" number. Crowle's take on Albert (the stage role that helped catapult Dick Van Dyke to stardom) might have been more effective if he didn't adopt the speaking voice of a 1930s film gangster.

Since Albert sounds like such a tough guy, you wonder why he allows his guilt-inducing, racist mother to steamroll him and Rose at every opportunity.

Drury Lane's "Bye Bye Birdie" is also visually stylish, thanks in large part to set and projection designer Christopher Ash's clever framing device of spinning the action around the set of a midcentury TV variety show. Ash's collagelike visuals and designer Sharon Sachs' fine period costumes help greatly.

Memorable songs and the timely spoofing of teeny-bopper pop star obsessions are probably why there's still affection for "Bye Bye Birdie."

But it's tough to ignore the show's drawbacks despite Drury Lane's otherwise deluxe production.

Agent/songwriter Albert Peterson (Matt Crowle) makes up with Rose Alvarez (Michelle Aravena) in the song "Rosie" in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs through Sunday, March 13. Courtesy of Brett Beiner/Drury Lane Theatre

Rock crooner Conrad Birdie (Jason Michael Evans, center) makes the Ohio residents of Sweet Apple go wild in the number "Honestly Sincere" in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs through Sunday, March 13. Courtesy of Brett Beiner/Drury Lane Theatre

Rose Alvarez (Michelle Aravena) tests out her allure on a group of unsuspecting Shriners in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs through March 13. Courtesy of Brett Beiner/Drury Lane Theatre

Agent and songwriter Albert Peterson (Matt Crowle, right) cheers up the "Sad Girl" (Isabelle Roberts) with the song "Put on a Happy Face" in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs through Sunday, March 13. Courtesy of Brett Beiner/Drury Lane Theatre

Rose Alvarez (Michelle Aravena) reflects on her complicated relationship in "Bye Bye Birdie" at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. The 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical runs through Sunday, March 13. Courtesy of Brett Beiner/Drury Lane Theatre

'Bye Bye Birdie'   

Location: Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-0111, <a href="http://drurylanetheatre.com">drurylanetheatre.com</a>

Showtimes: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, 1:30 and 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, through March 13

Running time: Two hours and 30 minutes, with intermission

Tickets: $45-$60

Parking: Free adjacent garage and valet service available

Rating: Some tobacco use, but largely for general audiences

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