EASY STREET PRODUCTIONS 'Ritz Reunion' brings down house

By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ford Family Recital Hall was rockin,' rollin' and swingin' Friday night as Easy Street Productions presented "Slick Uptown's Ritz Rock Reunion."
The company paid tribute to its early days at the Uptown Theater and two hit shows: "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "Rock Around the Clock." This was also the first time in 15 years that the original "Uptown Girls" -- Maureen Collins, Tania Grubbs and Robyn McCamy -- have performed on stage together. Easy Street has a reputation for great music and dancing, high energy and lots of humor, but this show exceeded all expectations.
Old-time broadcast
It was set up like an old-time radio broadcast with live audience, hosted by Slick Uptown (Todd Hancock).
The first half of the program featured hits from the big band era, beginning with a medley of tunes by the Easy Street Little Big Band, directed by Jeff Sanders. Uptown then sang "Puttin' On The Ritz," joined by a bevy of blonde flappers in bright yellow. Collins took center stage, as she sang "Sentimental Journey," joined by the other girls, dressed in glitzy black. Toes were tapping to "Chattanooga Choo Choo," and James McClellan, with the Easy Street Dancers, did some "Steppin' Out."
The broadcast featured some "celebrity guests:" Shirley Temple (Rachel McCamy, in her stage debut) singing "Good Ship Lollipop;" Jimmy Durante singing his signature "Inka Dinka Doo;" and a suave and debonair Frank Sinatra, who mesmerized the crowd with "It Had To Be You." And what big-band celebration would be complete without the Andrews Sisters? Grubbs also sang her smooth and sexy rendition of Gershwin's "I've Got A Crush On You."
Decade in a breeze
A decade flew by over intermission, and we were greeted with an updated Uptown, with slicked back hair and dark shades, as the second half of the show paid tribute to rock 'n' roll. The girls, in roller skates and poodle skirts, sang "Rock Around the Clock."
Since it was a "radio broadcast," we listened to commercial breaks from the sponsors: Chevy, Alka Selzer, and Brylcreem, and we got to follow the bouncing ball (sort of) as we sang along with Mitch.
And, of course, no Easy Street gala would be complete without McClellan singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
Rockin' time
The room was really rockin' as Petula Clark sang "Downtown," followed by Simon and Garfunkel's "Feelin' Groovy" and "Mrs. Robinson," a sexy Nancy Sinatra accompanied by Go-Go Girls in "Boots," and Aretha Franklin demanding "Respect."
But the crowd stood in ovation to see Sonny and Cher together again (Collins and David Jendre), in their hysterical performance of "The Beat Goes On" and "I've Got You, Babe."
We swooned as Elvis appeared, singing "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You," as he lavished affection on certain ladies in the audience. The walls were shaking as the show ended with "Viva Las Vegas" and wild applause.
XThe show continues today at 2:30 p.m. Call (330) 743-8555 for ticket information.