"The Marvelous Wonderettes" at Onstage in Bedford

                      THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES
program

The Travelling Toe and 2 friends took a trip back in time to 1958 and then jumped up to 1968 within just a couple of hours.  How did we three achieve this time travel feat?  We went to the Sunday matinee performance of "The Marvelous Wonderettes" at Onstage Theater in Bedford.  
The play was created and written by Roger Bean.  Mr. Bean has written a couple of follow-up plays for the Wonderettes including "Winter Wonderettes".

ROGER BEAN

Facebook - Roger Bean

Roger Bean

The opening act begins in 1958 at the Springfield High School Senior Prom (go Chipmunks)! The Wonderettes are the featured entertainment for the senior prom as the male singing group had an issue and could not appear.  Plus all 4 of the girls and and an unseen Judy Carver are in the running for Prom Queen.   One fun event for the audience is that we got to vote for the Prom Queen!  Who was elected Prom Queen?   The Travelling Toe can not tell you this important information as it could change with each performance...you dear audience members have the deciding vote when you go to the theater to see this fun musical!

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES
photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Star Telegram

The Marvelous Wonderettes were played by:

Laura Merchant as Betty Jean
Shannah Rae as Suzy
Lindsey Kay Janacek as Cindy Lou
Megan Alexander as Missy


The Marvelous Wonderettes sang a variety of songs stating with "Mr. Sandman" and ending with "Thank You and Good Night" and the beautiful "Sincerely".  There is much fun and teen age angst between the songs that tell the story of each Wonderette. The group belts out about 17 songs in the first act and about 18 in the second act.   Each of the the singers are good on their own but when they are singing together and harmonizing it is pure joy to these ears.  Unseen is a live band all back stage and they did a super job...never missed a cue!
The Travelling Toe and the other 2 time travelers being part of that 50's-60's generation when these songs were popular, swayed and hummed along with the Wonderettes.  

After a 15 minute intermission, we returned to our seats and found that time had advanced by 10 years and the Wonderettes were once again performing but this time for the 10 year high school reunion. Those 10 years of each girl's life was told in song and story - the good, the bad and the sorrow of lost love.  

The Marvelous Wonderettes
song list

Since we saw this show on Easter Sunday, we wore a chapeau (AKA: Easter Bonnet) and enjoyed free popcorn and a drink.   Doesn't get any better than that!


Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional theater critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.