Majestic Education revisits 1950s with 'Bye Bye Birdie'

CORVALLIS - There is something both ironic and wonderful about a cast of children and teenagers posing as grownups and singing:

"Kids!/I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!/Kids!/Who can understand anything they say?"

Universal themes such as the divide in understanding between generations is why "Bye Bye Birdie," a musical that is strikingly dated in other ways, continues to be a popular choice for directors.

Majestic Education Program will present the Tony Award-winning musical at 7:30 p.m. July 17-18 and 23-24 and at 1:30 p.m. July 25 at the Corvallis High School Theatre.

The production, directed by Amaya Egusquiza, includes a cast and crew of about 60 students ages 8 to 17, as well as two bands: Sugardirt, a MusiCafe Rock School band that recently won the Linn and Benton County "Teen Idol" competition, and an "orchestral/big band" group headed up by Jerome Monroe.

Memorable songs from the show include "How Lovely To Be a Woman," "We Love You, Conrad!," "Put On A Happy Face," "A Healthy, Normal, American Boy," "One Boy," "Honestly Sincere," "A Lot of Livin' To Do," "Kids" and "Spanish Rose."

The young actors have practiced for five weeks, longer than any other local summer theater programs.

"With the live music, it makes it much more complicated," Egusquiza said.

The story begins when agent and songwriter Albert Peterson finds himself in trouble after rock and roll superstar Conrad Birdie is drafted into the Army.

Albert's secretary and sweetheart, Rosie, comes up with a last-ditch publicity stunt: one lucky girl from Birdie's fan club will receive "One Last Kiss" before he goes off to boot camp.

Musical mayhem ensues when Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio, is chosen, and everyone wants to be a part of the action.

The satire on American society was adapted to film in 1963, starring Dick Van Dyke, Maureen Stapleton, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde, Bobby Rydell and Ann Margret.

Egusquiza worked to produce a play as true to the original version as possible.

"Our whole inspiration was 1958," she said.

She admits, though, that conveying that inspiration to the young cast has been a challenge at times.

"They're still kind of struggling with how different it was then," Egusquiza said.

"Especially with marriage," she added, noting that the cast was perplexed with the idea of a marriage being the pinnacle of success for a woman in the 1950s.

"Also, there are huge huge style differences," Egusquiza said. "The girls put on their costumes and the first thing they did was hike down their skirts to their hips."

In the age of the casual, the actors also wondered why people would wear formal hats and gloves when they left the house.

Egusquiza is constantly policing the cast to make sure they wear their 1950s attire - poodle shirts, bobby socks and pantyhose - in a realistic way for that time period.

"They are finally starting to get it," she said.

Title: Majestic Education's 'Bye Bye Birdie' Date: Jul. 16th, 2009 Majestic Education presents "Bye Bye Birdie," at 7:30 p.m. July 17-18 and 23-24, and 1:30 p.m. July 25 at the Corvallis High School Theatre, 1400 N.W. Buchanan Ave., Corvallis. PLAY »

CHECK IT OUT

WHO: Majestic Education.

WHAT: "Bye Bye Birdie" directed by Amaya Egusquiza.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. July 17-18 and 23-24, and 1:30 p.m. July 25.

WHERE: Corvallis High School Theatre, 1400 N.W. Buchanan Ave., Corvallis.

COST: $9 general admission. Tickets available at the Majestic Theatre Box Office and online.

INFO: www.majestic.org or 758-7827.