There was huge anticipation at the Auditorio de la Ribera this week when 27 separate and diverse acts crammed into the backstage hall together for the first full scale rehearsals of this year’s exciting, varied and highly creative Lip Sync 7. Directed and produced by Michael McLaughlin, this is a fundraiser in aid of the School for Special Children and for the new sound system for the auditorium.
The fun-packed show runs March 20, 21, 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, March 22, 3 p.m.. You’ll recognize many of the local people taking part and it’s great fun. The range of music ensures that there is something for everyone, including many well-known favorites.
Fred Koesling and Curly Lieberman perform excerpts from “Spamalot,” and there’s a Ke$ha dance number, “We R Who We R” by Leonor Zertuche.
Don Chaloner sings “I Wanna be Around to Pick up the Pieces,” while Lakeside’s own, multi-talented “Michael Jackson Assisted Care Dance Troupe” – Wendy Hamblin, Audrey Zuckerman, Olga Kaplunenko and Alyson de Jong – give their own very unique interpretation of his smash hit “Billie Jean.”
Libby Townsend is unforgettable as Pavarotti singing “Nessum Dorma” and demands for encores are inevitable, particularly when the interminable giant silk handkerchief makes its appearance.
Wendy Hamblin, Audrey Zuckerman, Olga Kaplounenko really do full justice to Devo’s “Whip It,” Martha and the Vandellas’ “Heat Wave” – courtesy of Sandra Fields, Dee Grant and Georgeanna Ocasio is excellent, if somewhat deafening.
Alberto Costales brings Act I to a very impressive close with his clever Elvis Presley impersonation singing “Viva Las Vegas,” accompanied by a very attractive chorus comprising Graciela Ducet, D’le Beatty-Tobias, Pamela Johnson, Edith McEvoy, Azucena Bateman and Maritza Freyslinger.
Act II opens with a very cleverly underplayed version of Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” by John Ward, Wendy Hamblin, Loren Hamblin and Olga Kaplounenko, which is well done and exceptionally realistic. Paul Hart follows as the very gifted Mr Trololo – Eduard Khil. A complete natural, his impersonation is very clever and much enjoyed by all.
Kat Tetrault’s version of “Ladies Who Lunch” from the musical “Company” is followed by Edith McEvoy and Ricardo Gomez’ superb interpretation of Joe Crocker’s “You can Leave your Hat On.”
Lori Truly morphs into a very plausible K.D. Lang, dressed in a black suit with white shirt and cuffs, topped with a black wig. Her magnificent version of “Hallelujah” is a genuinely unforgettable show-stopper and, if the rehearsal is anything to go by, will reduce more than a few members of the audience to tears.
Heading upbeat again, Leslie Martin, Howard Feldstein and Clayton McAdam’s version of Rossini’s “Cat Duet” was priceless.
The choreography for “Money, Money, Money” from the Broadway Musical “Cabaret” was well thought out and Wendy Peterson and Ken Carpenter gave a wonderful performance of this humorous and tricky number.
There are many popular numbers throughout and obviously a great deal of work has gone into the preparation of this diverse, slick and quick change show. Full credit should go to the sound and light operators together with all the back stage workers as well as, of course, McLoughlin himself for somehow stitching this whole invaluable fundraiser together so successfully.
The closing number, is by Alberto Costales, Graciela Ducet, Azucena Bateman, Edith McEvoy, Anita Lee, Maritza Freyslinger, D’le Beatty-Tobias, Allyson DeJong, Heather Hunter, Ginger Thacker and Salvador Velazquez Punzo. Singing Gloria Estevan and the Miami Sound Machine’s “Rhythm is Gonna Get You” they certainly sum up the toe-tapping, inescapable energy that all the performers and the show itself represent. It is a great show, and a very worthy cause.
Tickets 250 pesos for center section cushioned seats and 150 pesos for side section seats available from Diane Pearl Colecciones, the auditorium, Yoli’s, El Granero, Casi Nuevo, Lake Chapala Real Estate Chapala office and the LCS March 16-24 only, 10 a.m.-noon.