Mamma Mia! Saturday April 13, 2019 2:00 PM Live Performance by the "High School: POB-JFK Drama…read moreCadets, and the Orchestra conducted by Robert Lombardo along with Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Drums and Percussionist- (I didn't miss those timely chimes at the end).
Done by H.S. students, seen in Middle School. I had also seen a flier on a store window that read "This Time" at Plainview H.S. My confusion came with questions of who were putting on the performance, High School or Middle School students and if there were two different schools with two different performances.
Unsure,I called the JFK H.S. during business hours. The office woman said that she was unfamiliar with the "This Time" information and reinforced info of the High School production and its location.
Location: Performed at: POB Middle School. A $15.00-dollar ticket at the door with a $12.00 advanced purchase * and honoring Senior Citizens; this performance was free to them.
I walked in from a sunny day to a transformed day and time on stage for yet another performance of Mamma Mia that was equally fine and beautifully adapted, with a lot of students, a smallish stage, concise choreography, and effective affects. Or is that affective effects? Ok, **o English teachers, where are you?
It doesn't work without all the puzzle pieces. Adaption is the key, to working with what you have and improvising as you go along; particularly the behind the scene staff and crew and all the hard work to make it look easy when the final productions come together. There were many people to acknowledge in this process.
The Orchestra was at floor level front and center and was well directed with smooth transitions from song to song. The movements of the percussion members added to my enjoyment as they followed, tapped and sang along in some spots.
The voices: and expressions were fine from both the male and female rolls along with the background singers filling in.
The dancers: coming off stage to sing within the aisles added to the uplifting spirit of audience participation. So maybe not everyone was up and dancing in this performance, but I bet some of the senior crowd were clapping along.
The outfits and costumes were, again, I want to use the word effective. (am I the only one who doesn't know the correct word definitions here?) I loved the scene with the young men dancing in "flippers". Also, the black light green hats caught the feeling of flow in the dream sequence. One thing I thought I noticed, was an outfit from the trunk was in gold but when the girls came out to sing, they were in silver bling. Though all of it, had such pretty colors.
Upon entering the school there were raffles for sale of different prices, colors and choices with bags in front of the baskets, to place tickets and a 50/50. Though I could see much efforts in the set up and work involved in presenting and selling them, I had no clarity of how to know when to check my tickets.I didn't recall hearing in opening announcements, anything about, checking the list to see if you had won, after the show. (One would think this is common sense but sometimes the winner doesn't have to be present) So, at the end of the show, I did go over and I was directed to a clearly written paper with the winning numbers. Alas I was one number off.
All in all, this was an entertaining performance and I shall keep an eye out for others in the future.
