LAMB'S ROCKS WITH "RESPECT" FOR WOMEN : A 60's MUSICAL CELEBRATION

  

You want some respect gals? Head out to Coronado and The Lamb’s Players Theatre and I guarantee you that for 90+ minutes you will be treated to a song fest of no less than 30+, (and those are just the full on numbers not to mention snippets of some) songs right out of a ‘60’s jukebox.

Joy Yandell and Ben Read 

Presented to you by an ensemble of six of the most musically talented women who seamlessly switch from do wop to swing and sway to solo’s, Rhythm & Blues, to changing outfits and wigs (Jemima Dutra and Connie Brugman) with magical speed and playing a variety of musical instruments  piano, guitar and sax) all the while honoring the likes of Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, Dionne Warwick, Joni Mitchell, Petula Clark, Tina Turner and (Mama) Cass Elliot to mention a few, and that’s just the beginning. 

The San Diego Rep. paid tribute to Aretha Franklin in their show RESPECT in 2012 or there about. Not to get the two confused, that was then, this is now. Creators Kerry Meads and Vanda Eggington created this original concept with direction by Meads and musical direction, and arrangements by Eggington, precision choreography by Christine Wisner Hall and vocal coach Leonard Patton. 

Tell me it doesn’t take a village!

Cast of "RESPECT" at Lamb's

Backed up by Steve Gouveia on guitar, Ben Read on keyboard, Dave Rumley, percussions and Oliver Shirley on bass, this mighty band played on as the women’s ensemble consisting of Angela Chatelain Avila, Catie Grady, Rebecca Jade, Joy Yandell, Sydney Joyner and Janaya Mahealani Jones rode or steamrolled through their performances while projections (Lacio Pontes) of the said artists were displayed on the tinseled curtain drop (Mike Buckley) and lit by Nathan Pierson in life like images. Patrick Duffy’s sound was near perfect.  

Janaya Mahealani Jones

It tickled me to listen to their renditions of “Dream Lover” (The Paris Sisters), “Walking in The Rain” (The Ronettes), “Lipstick on Your Collar” (Connie Francis), “My Boyfriend’s Back (The Angels), , “Where Did Our Love Go?, “Aint No Mountain High Enough” (  “Stop! In the Name of Love” ((The Supremes), “Alfie”, “I Say a Little Prayer”, Walk on By”, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” (Dionne Warwick), “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” “Downtown” (Petula Clark), “These Boots are Made for Walkin’”, (Nancy Sinatra), “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, (Cass Elliot), “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” (Gladys Knight), “Feeling Good”, “I Put a Spell on You”, “I Wish I Knew How”, (Nina Simone), “Piece of Heart”, (Janis Joplin), “Both Sides Now” (Joni Mitchell), “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” “Natural Woman”, (Carole King),”River Deep, Mountain High”, (Tina Turner), “Think”, “Baby I Love You”, to “RESPECT”, (Aretha Franklin). 

Tell me that’s not a perfect way to spend a day?

When: 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through April 9th.

Where: Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado

Tickets: $34-$92

Photo: JT MacMillan

Phone: (619) 437-6000

Online: lambsplayers.org