Lagoon ensemble members sing, dance through 17 tunes

By Ivan M. Lincoln
Deseret Morning News

ON BROADWAY, Music USA Amphitheater, Lagoon, through Sept. 15 (451-8000 or www.lagoonpark.com). Running time: 45 minutes (no intermission).

FARMINGTON — For Lagoon visitors needing a 45-minute respite from the wild rides or being drenched on Rattlesnake Rapids, the easiest solution is to slip into the park's Music USA Amphitheater for a musical trip along Broadway.

Members of the exuberant ensemble (a few of whom might change from night to night depending on which "swing" performers are filling in) dance and sing through 17 tunes showcasing bits from both new shows and familiar classics.

During a recent midweek performance, Preston Yates turned up the heat during an energetic "Run Freedom, Run" from "Urinetown," Kim Stephenson sizzled her way through "If They Could See Me Now" from "Sweet Charity," Valerie Larsen steamed up the stage as "Roxie" (Roxie Hart) in "Chicago" and Stephenson, Becca Schwartz and Kathryn Stratford — replicating the Dream Girls — quickly moved through "Move."

Stage-filling ensemble numbers included the title song and "You Can't Stop the Beat" (the latter from "Hairspray"), a shimmering "Teach Me How to Shimmy" (from "Smokey Joe's Cafe") and the frenetic "Coffee Break" segment from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

There were also tunes from "My Fair Lady," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "42nd Street."

Among the lesser-known bits were Cody Jensen and Jennifer Perucca's duet, "You'll Be in My Heart" from Disney's "Tarzan" and "Gimme, Gimme" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie," sung by Valerie Larsen.

There's was a flag-waving finale — with the Parisian rebels' banner — in the stirring "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from "Les Miserables."

Also in the ensemble are William Richardson and Andrew Lewis.

Choreographed by Jennifer Giauque-Tingey and Marilyn May Montgomery, the short revue sailed smoothly from one segment to another, with dozens of bright costumes (Amber Woody) beneath an "On Broadway" marquee (Rodney Elwood). Seth Miller's lighting doesn't kick in until the evening's second show.

One major problem for the performance reviewed was that a strong wind ruined some of the sound.

Ivan M. Lincoln