Theatre wants this to be your Buddy
If at first you do succeed, why not try it again anyway?
That seems to be the philosophy behind Chemainus Theatre Festival’s 2013 season-opener.
Almost exactly a year after rockin’ the joint with All Shook Up, a Grease-flavoured, Elvis-soundtracked hit that News Leader Pictorial reviewer Peter W. Rusland said was possibly CTF’s best-ever musical-romance, Cowichan’s favourite professional theatre company is dipping back into the Brylcreem.
This time, the spotlight shifts off the King and onto fellow rock’n’roll pioneer Buddy Holly.
The theatre is billing Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story as the “world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll musical,” featuring “20 iconic songs that have had 22 million music fans rockin’ in their seats.”
“A jukebox musical calls for plenty of rousing hits, and Buddy delivers with such popular songs as Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Maybe Baby, Not Fade Away and the famous music (and faces) of Ritchie Valens’ La Bamba and “the Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson’s Chantilly Lace,” show promo material states.
Donning the pressed suits and horn-rimmed glasses of the star will by Parksville native Zachary Stevenson.
“A passionate fan of the icon’s musical ingenuity — and an uncanny reflection of the iconic songwriter and composer —Stevenson is thrilled to once again share the story of how his idol changed the face of popular music and paved the way for future rock n’ rollers,” the press release states. “The story, written by Alan Janes, touches on Holly’s exciting burst onto the music scene (with his ‘devil’s music’), first taste of fame (with No. 1 hit That’ll Be the Day), struggle for artistic control, whirlwind romance and marriage, and his famous final performance.”
“It’s all rollicking emotion,” said director and choreographer Sara-Jeanne Hosie.
Your ticket
What: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
Where: Chemainus Theatre Festival
When: Feb. 22 to April 7
Tickets: Call 246-9800 for prices and showtimes
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