Finally!  The largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia has an "A" venue for theatre and music.  During intermission I was able to chat briefly with the founder and Executive Producing Director of the Virginia Musical Theatre, Jeff Meredith.  Jeff told me that not only was the front of the house good, but that they hadn't shorted the backstage areas either.  As one who has played in theatres where the front (where the audience is) was gorgeous but the backstage was a complete pit from hell, this was good to hear.

Messrs. Snyder and Maderas play well together, but I could never ever lose the feeling that they didn't know each other well.  Especially as they are portraying a couple of guys who've known each other for ten years.  Mr. Snyder never really convinces us that he's the old softy who's able to sing about counting your blessings, but Mr. Maderas steals the show with his high energy and singing and dancing talents. 

After the show I heard someone make a statement about missing the "crooner" aspect of Mr. Snyder's performance.  Unfortunately the music didn't seem to be written in a key for that rich, bass-baritone crooner who was Bing, but rather a little more of the high baritone/tenor which is so popular in New York today.

A couple of song and dance men, Wallace and Davis team up and we see them in the second scene ten years later on the Ed Sullivan Show.  (Actually, Ed's show's actual title in 1954 was Toast of the Town, and it didn't take the hosts name until September of 1955.  This is one of those things that most folks might not know, but points out an inattention to detail on the part of the authors.)

The team of Wallace and Davis are planning to leave for Miami after the show, but first need to stop and catch a "sister act" at a local nightclub.  It is here that they come into contact with the Haynes sisters Betty and Judy, played by Amanda Johnson and Kelly Shook.  We witness their performance of the song "Sisters," complete with the feather fan choreography from the movie.  The quartet sit down together and we quickly see who is attracted to whom, and more importantly who isn't.  The two attractees decide that the other two would be perfect for each other, and off we go. 

The ladies do well opposite the men, but once again we are disappointed with the characterization of Ms. Johnson.  This may be due to her trying to match her performance to Mr. Snyder.  Ms. Shook is more than a match for Mr. Maderas, however.  Their moments onstage are pure joy.

The book for this show has been rewritten by David Ives and Paul Blake and bears little resemblance to the storyline of the original.  True, they all end up in Vermont at the Columbia Inn, but the story deviates greatly from the original plot.  For persons not familiar with the movie this probably will not be a problem, but for the folks hoping to see and hear dialog from the film... well, it's few and far apart. 

Interestingly, the musical selections for this stage version have added Irving Berlin songs that were never in the movie.  Whether this was done for filling out the scenes (which can be a little sparse) or to showcase the original cast, it creates a problem for the audience.  What part of the show are we watching?  Is it the rehearsal for the show that's going to be produced for the Columbia Inn, or is it a part of the musical we're the audience for?  Additionally, there are times when the audience is responding to the performance onstage only to be cut off by the pit band playing into the next scene or, as happened a couple of times, into the rest of the scene.  Nothing worse than a confused audience.  Well maybe a tired audience.  The show isn't short.  The first act has 9 scenes and the second act 7. 

We didn't see intermission until 9:35pm.  That's a long time, especially for a show that has some slow moments.

The cast is full of Actors' Equity Association members, at least 13 by my count.  Brought in from out of town, they have had an intense, although minimal, rehearsal process and it shows from time to time.  Because of this, the show is at best uneven.  A few line flubs, a lack of constant characterization by some of the actors, and some minor dance mistakes.  While the dance numbers are well done, and there are several of them, none the less I couldn't help noticing that in the first act closer, "Blue Skies," I saw elements of Bob Fosse and Michael Bennett.  And while imitation is the highest form of flattery, it wasn't correct to the period. And speaking of the period I really missed one of the production numbers from the movie.  "Choreography" was a gentle jab at the modern dance movement which was all the rage in the 50's, and it's absence was missed greatly.

The pit band is, without question, one of the finest I've heard in the area.  The fact that the local American Federation of Musicians is now involved with VMT can only bring the level of musicianship up.  Well done.

The venue that is the Sandler Center is beautiful.  May this be the beginning of a rebirth of importance of the arts in Virginia Beach.  And may it signal a reordering of priorities on the part of the politicians in the city.  Without the arts we have no souls.