Swingtime Canteen Marches into the Ivoryton Playhouse Theater

 Swingtime Canteen Marches into the Ivoryton Playhouse Theater

By David Pulvermacher

                                                       (Image from ivorytonplayhouse.org)

Step into a world of joy, celebration, and patriotism with Ivoryton’s latest production, Swingtime Canteen. It’s a lively and heartfelt show that passes the torch from the Greatest Generation to our own; Swingtime Canteen is a charismatic fictional show for all ages, just in time for Memorial Day.  This spirited musical, written by Linda Thorsen Bond, William Repicci, and Charles Bush, weaves the story of eight women from diverse backgrounds, uniting to form an all-woman big band. Be captivated by the charm of Hollywood star Marian Ames and her band as they dazzle the troops at the Swingtime Canteen in 1944 London, England. 


As World War II rages on through Europe, Ames and her band strive to bring a smile to the troop’s faces. Each of the leads takes turns opening up to the audience about their personal tie to the war and their incentive to continue to perform their tour.

                                                    (Image from ivorytonplayhouse.org)

Director Amy Jones has the cast engaging with the audience, making them feel like soldiers attending the concert. This creative choice was surprising and fun, eliciting laughter from the audience. In addition, Jones’s choice to have the characters rotate through the band and perform on multiple instruments was impressive. In doing this, Jones makes a simple plot new and engaging for the audience. 


Overall, the performances were engaging. The band played popular classics of the day, such as “Bugle Call Rag,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “I’ll Be with You in the Apple Blossoms.” Several strong singers in the cast include Katie Barton, Claire Marie Spencer, and Claire France Sullivan. Musical pieces such as “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You” and “His Rocking Horse Ran Away” were performed with energy that fills up the room. Caitlin Witty’s character, Katie Gammersfugel, was amusing and provided a good dose of comedic relief. Her interactions with the rest of her bandmates ranged from quirky to heartfelt. 

                                    

  (Image from ivorytonplayhouse.org)


Costume Designer Elizabeth Saylor’s work was accurate for the time period, and each woman’s outfit reflected their socioeconomic background and their views of the war. While Topeka Abotelli’s overalls represented the women who stepped up to work in factories during the war, Marian Ames’s sparkling dress reflects the wealthy elite.  


While the performance was well done, there were some issues with the sound system which would impact the singing. As the actors were performing, the sound level of their microphones would fluctuate. This was noticeable when actors would go from using the standing microphone to their headset. There would be a momentary sound quality lapse as the microphones switched. 


From the classic 40s music to the witty banter between the characters, Swingtime Canteen is a charismatic show that is enjoyable for the whole family. It is playing through June 9th at the Ivoryton Playhouse Theater in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $60 for adults, $55 for seniors, and $25 for students. (For Thursday night performances, tickets can be purchased at $30 at 6:00 PM for the 7:30 PM performance.) Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office at 103 Main St, Ivoryton, CT 06442, by calling (860) 767-7318, or by vising their website at https://www.ivorytonplayhouse.org/


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