When I was a kid, I fell in-love with everything 50s. It could have been because Back to the Future was such a big hit. Or maybe it was because of the movie Stand By Me (was that the 60s?). I used to love going to Jukebox Johnny’s on Broadway and Cambie (remember that place?) because it felt like an old 50s diner. My favourite book of all time is The Catcher in the Rye. I fell in love with James Dean even though, to this day, I have never watched one of his movies.

For some reason, my love of the 50s never left me: a few years ago, my husband and I made a trip to Memphis, visiting Graceland and Sun Records – and apparently handling the microphone that Elvis used to record his first songs all those many years ago.

So it’s no surprise that I know the words to at least a dozen Buddy Holly songs. And when I found out that the Arts Club was putting on Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, it was only natural that I’d want to see their latest production.

I’m pretty familiar with Buddy Holly’s bio simply because I’ve seen The Buddy Holly Story starring Gary Busey and released in 1978. Busey has a quality in that movie that makes me think of him more like Buddy Holly than Buddy Holly himself.

Zachary Stevenson’s portrayal of Buddy Holly has that same quality: he seems to match if not replace, for a moment, the legend himself. For these few hours, Zachary Stevenson is Buddy Holly. He’s simply electric.

Zachary Stevenson in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Photo by Tim Matheson

The cast took us through all the best of Buddy Holly’s repertoire from Peggy Sue to Peggy Sue Got Married and including Words of Love, Heartbeat, Maybe Baby, Everyday and more. It’s actually staggering how much Buddy Holly produced in the short 18 months before his untimely death.

Zachary Stevenson and Elena Juatco in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Photo by Tim Matheson.

This is a performance to take your kids to. The plot hums along at a quick pace and not only is the music accessible, but it’ll have your kids clapping their hands and tapping out a beat. I swear every eight-year-old will freak out over Michael Scholar Jr.  singing La Bamba as Riche Valens. If your performance is anything like the one I went to, they may even be dancing in the aisle.

Think you’re not a Buddy Holly fan? I promise you’ll not only be entertained, but you’ll rave on!

Buddy Holly: The Buddy Holly Story

Presented by The Arts Club Theatre Company. Now playing at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until July 11, 2010.

Buy Tickets.

Related posts:

1. Stir It Up with Mom’s The Word: Remixed
2. White Christmas: Merry and Bright
3. Date Night: The Sandbar and It’s a Wonderful Life

And I’m so glad we did.

Originally debuting at the Vancouver festival Women in View in 1993, Mom’s the Word fully premiered at the Arts Club in 1995, and later delivered more than 2,500 performances to over one million people across four continents. The follow up Mom’s the Word 2: Unhinged had its world premiere at the Arts Club in 2005 and has since been performed to more than 250,000 people across three continents.

Playing at the Art’s Club Theatre until November 7, Mom’s the Word: Remixed seems to hit all the highs and lows of being a mom in today’s world. Based on a collection or composite of the playwrights’ stories, the play runs the gamut of topics from premature birth to delinquent teenagers to extra-marital affairs. There’s even a streaking scene.

Among the five performers, Deborah Williams in particular gave a stand-out performance delivering lines like “Every day I start out Mary Poppins but I end up Cruella de Vil.” and healing us from pushing fundraiser cookie dough and popcorn on our friends and family. Allison Kelly’s stories of the birth of her premature son didn’t leave a dry eye in the house but later caught a laugh when she recounts how her teenager son told her, “Get over it Mom, I lived.”

It’s cliche, but true: you’ll laugh, you’ll cry – and if you’re me (which I know you’re not, but follow me now), you’ll leave feeling that extra-bit ok to unpack 20 more boxes, live in a house turned upside down and eat take out for another few days. Perfect for any mom wanting to take a break from the everyday. Better yet, organize a “you” night and see this play with your mommy group friends.

Jill Daum, Barbara Pollard, Deborah Williams, and Susan Bertoia in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Mom’s the Word: Remixed. Photo by David Cooper.

Mom’s The Word: Remixed
By Mom’s the Word Collective: Linda Carson, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard, Deborah
Williams.
Starring Susan Bertoia, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Barbara Pollard, Deborah Williams
Playing at the Arts Club until November 7, 2009.
Buy tickets online.

Related posts:

1. Oh Boy!: Go See Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story
2. Date Night: The Sandbar and It’s a Wonderful Life
3. White Christmas: Merry and Bright