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“Suds” cleans up with ‘60s hits
Sue Merrell
The Grand Rapids Press
6/29/09
I know a place where the music is fine and the lights are low – and you can do your laundry, too.
Friday’s opening performance of “Suds”, the third show of the Hope Summer Repertory Theatre season, was a snappy, sassy sell-out at Holland’s Knickerbocker Theatre. By the end of the evening, the packed house of about 500 was singing and clapping along, so I’d say the show was a success.
The show includes 40 or more ‘60s hits. Some are just a quick phrase, but many, such as “Mr. Postman”, “Where the Boys Are” or “How Can I Be Sure”, are full-length spotlight numbers.
The songs tell a fluff-and-fold story of Cindy, who works at a Laundromat. She gets a kiss-off letter from her pen-pal beau and decides to end it all by hanging herself with a pair of pink pedal pushers hooked to the agitator of a washing machine. Her dueling guardian angels show up, thinking the gyrating Cindy is doing a new dance, which quickly becomes a hilarious version of “Locomotion” with Cindy reeled in and out on a tangle of laundry.
This is a madcap Laundromat with magical Maytags that can bake a cake or turn a towel into a glittery dancing dress, if a guardian angel snaps her fingers. Choreographer Meribeth Kisner has created a spin cycle of innovative dances that roam all over the stage, washing machines and counter. “These Boots Are Made for Walking” was particularly well done with Cindy (Annie Sheehan) mopping up a visiting repairman (Michael Haller).
Gail Rastorfer does a great job as Marge, a tough-talking guardian angel with biting retorts and frustrated expressions. But in the end she really puts her heart into singing “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.” As DeeDee, Kelly Sina is the more enthusiastic, but slightly ditzy novice angel who is always coming up with great ideas.
Haller portays all the other characters from the sexy postman and the beleaguered repairman to the handsome customer, buxom Mrs. Halo and the geeky mystery date. His best number is “Secret Agent Man”, leaping on and off the counter with ease.
Director Fred Tessler pulls a heavy-duty load of music from his six-piece band and some great accent effects such as the ding every time the handsome customer smiles.
There’s a lot of new millennium attitude added to these ‘60s tunes, both in the rocking arrangements and the edgy harmonies. Costume designer Amanda Janke evokes a similar mood, going to extremes with skin-tight capris for Marge and bouffant crinolines for DeeDee.
“Suds” isn’t a retrospective of the ‘60s as much as reimagination of the era for a new generation.
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