Guest Author - Lorna London Sloukji

It's been a while since I've watched a play with a smile plastered on my face during most of it, until tonight. Windwood productions and Paul Bartz, executive producer presented Bye Bye Birdie at the Living Arts Centre in my hometown of Mississauga, Ontario, just forty minutes west of Toronto.

With Canada's own Eli Budwill as teenage heartthrob, Conrad Birdie, Jonathan Van Dyke as Birdie's hard-working manager, Albert Peterson, and Regina Gatti as the outspoken and noble Rosie Alvarez, the evening promised a stellar cast with one outstanding performance after another.

Within the first few seconds of the play, the audience shifted in their seats, smiled, and bobbed their heads to the wildly energetic tune sung by Birdie’s devoted teenaged fans.

Comedic timing is a crucial element in a performance—and that timing was bang on, every time. Gatti's rendition of her character "Spanish Rose" proved that a strong actor delivered every facial expression, hand movement, rising intonation, and emphatic gesture at the right time, every time.

Van Dyke was sensational, believable, and an absolute pleasure.

The cast's singing captivated the audience, as a round of applause was given at the end of every scene, with hoots and whistles following.

Lara Hayhurst, who plays Kim MacAfee, the lucky girl who gets to be kissed "one last kiss" by Birdie was in complete control of her powerful voice.

The cast and crew of Bye Bye Birdie deserve a standing ovation, two thumbs up, and all that jazz. It was one of the most entertaining and delightful performances I've seen in months.

Cast
Jonathan Van Dyke as Albert Peterson
Regina Gatti as Rosie Alvarez
Lara Hayhurts as Kim MacAfee
Juliet Brooks as Ursula Merkle
Mallorie Fletcher as Mrs. Doris MacAfee
Rockford Sansom as Mr. Harry MacAfee
Jean Liuzzi as Mrs. Mae Peterson
Eli Budwill as Conrad Birdie
Jim Nassef as Hugo Peabody
Dave Adamick as the mayor
Deanna Glover as the mayor’s wife

About the Living Arts Centre
Featuring over 225, 000 square feet of performance venues, the Living Arts Centre located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada has two main arts venues—Hammerson Hall and The RBC Theatre. These venues are the ideal sites for arts, cultural, and entertainment events.