After a three-year hiatus, the Los Altos Stage Company’s Follies has returned, and our community is better off for it.
Follies cast members seemed to have a grand old time performing witty parodies of political and pandemic life during their “Reboot 2.0: The Sequel!,” held July 31 at Bus Barn Theater. The Follies is a fundraiser for the local theater group.
Enthusiastically hosted by associate artistic director Gary Ferguson, the cast romped through 11 songs that comically captured these crazy times. A mix of well-crafted videos and live performances featured boisterous singing and fun choreography. Follies leader Vicki Reeder led a team of witty lyricists, including Rod Sinks, Rhea Feldman and Anita Carey.
Using material ranging from golden oldies to Taylor Swift, the cast offered takes on the frustrations of public health restrictions (“Six Feet (Apart)” sung to the tune of “New York New York”), pandemic isolation at home (“Eat Happy,” sung to “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”) and a return to human contact (“Longest” sung to Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time”).
One of the best – and funniest – was “No Can Do” (sung to Hall & Oates’ 1980s hit) that highlighted the setbacks of remote education (Sample lyric: “I can’t learn like that – no can do.”)
Swift’s “Shake It Off” was recast with lyrics on social media obsessions: “I try to quit, but it’s in vain. Addictive by design – capturing my mind – but I keep scrolling – can’t stop, won’t stop posting.”
The cast fully disclosed their liberal leanings with send-ups of former President Donald Trump and Fox News (“Quit Talkin,’” sung to the Bee Gees’ “Jive Talkin’”).
There also were references to the Los Altos City Council, homelessness and NIMBYs, some of which elicited a few audience moans.
“NIMBYs,” sung to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “King Herod’s Song,” took on those willing to help the homeless – up to a point.
“Oh homeless people, oh you homeless people – let me buy you jam and bread, give you all a comfy bed,” went the lyrics. “We’ll build you a home, so you won’t need to roam – but not in my backyard.”
“People,” the Jule Styne-Bob Merrill classic, transformed into a send-up of both conservative NIMBYs and liberal residents (“They’re the wackiest people in the world.”).
The song also featured pointed commentary on the frustration felt among local theater-lovers about the lack of a new performing arts center in town despite years of discussion. A New Theater Working Group led by Reeder is once again promoting the idea of a new downtown center. It was one of the recommendations of the 2017 Downtown Vision plan – a plan that has basically sat on the shelf since council approval.
“Theater, don’t want no stinkin’ theater,” read the lyrics. “This town don’t need a Vision, it’s just fine.”
But “Longest Time” finished the show on an upbeat note, pointing to a future without “six feet apart” restricting us.
“We missed you so bad – we hope you liked our show – and we intend to hug you for the longest time.”
The Los Altos Stage Company is “Back in the Barn” for its 2021-2022 season, featuring five productions: “Tiny Beautiful Things” (Sept. 9 through Oct. 3); “Every Brilliant Thing” (Dec. 2-19); “Roe” (Jan. 27 through Feb. 20); “Steel Magnolias” (April 7 through May 1); and “Ruthless, The Musical” (May 26 through June 26).
For tickets and more information, visit losaltosstage.org.
