New Canadian musical recalls vaudeville gloryThe Ottawa Citizen - Thursday, October 16, 2003The glory that was vaudeville is recalled tonight when a new Canadian musical makes its debut at Centerpointe Theatre. Vaudeville: The Musical features original songs by Gordon Carruth and Bob Knuckle as well as memorable tunes by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.The cast of nearly 100 stars Bob Lackey and Al Baldwin and features an appearance by Ottawa magician Chris Pilsworth. The storyline is simple. It’s 1929 and two old vaudeville troupers are auditioning acts for a show they hope will restore them to their glory days. For those far too young to remember, vaudeville was a stage entertainment especially popular in the early decades of the 20th century. The shows consisted of unrelated acts and might include acrobats, comedians, dancers, singers or magicians. By 1929, radio and talking movies had sent vaudeville into a fatal decline. The first act of Vaudeville features a series of auditions – some good, some awful. In the second act, Centrepointe is transformed into the Adelphi Theatre and the audience is transported back to the 1920s to enjoy one last vaudeville show, but with a surprise ending. Vaudeville: The Musical is a presentation of GOYA (Giving Opportunities to Young Artists) Theatre and features both semi-professional and amateur players. Vaudeville: The Musical opens tonight at Centrepointe Theatre and plays Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. There are also performances Oct. 22 to 24 at 8 p.m. and a matinee Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets, $15 to $22, are available at the Centrepointe Theatre box office, 580-2700, or go to www.centrepointetheatre.com |