BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating
musical shows of our time. It tells the story of a rock and roll singer
who is about to be inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie,
an Elvis Presley type, has a pompadour and thick sideburns; he wears
gaudy gold costumes and speaks in a rugged voice. Albert Peterson, his
agent, is a very pleasant mild mannered young man. Albert's faithful
secretary Rose Alvarez keeps him and Birdie moving forward in the
world. Rosie concocts one final national publicity plan before Conrad's
induction.
Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girl goodbye with an
all-American kiss. Kim MacAfee in Sweet Apple, Ohio wins the honor. All
of the phones in her town are already busy during "The Telephone Hour,"
as Kim has just been pinned to Hugo, a local boy. She is a pretty girl
of fifteen and sings with spring-like ardor "How Lovely to Be a Woman,"
as she pulls on the plaid woolen socks and the baggy mustard colored
sweater considered stylish and popular among young ladies.
The arrival of Birdie in Sweet Apple causes
people of all ages to swoon. Birdie says that his success is due to the
fact that he is "Honestly Sincere" when he sings, and the quiet little
town goes into a spin. The MacAfee household is completely upset by the
visiting celebrity. It is decided that Birdie will give his "One Last
Kiss" on the Ed Sullivan show. Kim's father, who laments the whole
uproar, tries to break into the act and behaves like a ham on the TV
show. "Hymn for a Sunday Evening" is a salute to the greater glory of
Ed Sullivan.
Birdie becomes disgusted with his life and
goes out on the town with the teenagers. He feels tense with Albert and
is tired of being supervised. The parents of Sweet Apple cannot
understand the new generation and express this in "Kids." Rosie, still
waiting for that band of gold from Albert after eight years, invades a
Shriners' meeting. An extremely hilarious ballet ensues. She then
decides to become the Latin American spitfire that she is painted as,
by Albert's lead-footed catastrophe-ridden mother. She is determined to
become "Spanish Rose." Kim is reunited with Hugo, and Rose with Albert
in the lovely number "Rosie." Other hit numbers include "A Lot of
Livin' to Do" and "Put on a Happy Face. "
BYE BYE BIRDIE is a satire done with the
fondest affection. It gives an insight into the everyday life that is
very much part of us all. It is the tops in imagination and frivolity;
a show that will be enjoyed by the cast as much as the audience.
