REVIEW: 'In Perfect Harmony' at Heritage Square Music Hall

 

The multi-talented cast of "In Perfect Harmony" at Heritage Square Music Hall. Photo by Connie Helsley.

Pay no attention to the rock quarry hiding behind the other side of the alpine slide. The Music Hall at Heritage Square in Golden is built on a cozy, comfortable and reassuring foundation of nostalgia and a genuine love for the music of yesteryear. Heritage Square's latest musical revue, "In Perfect Harmony," doesn't have a mean-spirited bone in its body. It's a sweet, innocent, often funny and expertly performed ensemble show with dozens of nearly non-stop songs everyone wants to hear again and again.

Actually, the wholesome innocence and cockeyed optimism expressed by the seasoned cast is part of the joke, as they are all now in their "middle years." Even the kids from "Glee" (who are mostly in their late 20s) are far too jaded to pull this kind of show off. The Music Hall ensemble doesn't even wink as they gleefully play Perry, Cheri, Mary, Llarry, Barry, Terry and Gary, who ostensibly retired from performing absurdly upbeat and cheesy "Up With People" routines two decades ago, and have continued to tour backwater towns, entertaining at shopping malls and nursing homes.

Like the guys in "Forever Plaid," the Dysfunctional Family Singers are just too good for how goofy they look and act, and that's what makes it so much fun.

The material itself is all over the place, but it's safe to say that none of the songs are less than 30 years old. It runs the gamut, without much rhyme or reason, from ragtime, to Broadway, to a TV show medley, Depression-era ballad and 60's pop songs. What all the songs have in common is a sense of musicality, particularly in regard to harmony, thus the show's title: "In Perfect Harmony."

I get it. But the cast NAILS it. The vocal variety and nuances of longtime Music Hall regulars T.J. Mullin, Annie Dwyer, Johnette Toye, Rory Pierce, Alex Crawford, Randy Johnson and Eric Weinstein are awe inspiring. They know their business, and they know each other, so the whole thing clicks. Add in some choreography, and they STILL make it look easy. 

Some of the schmaltz wears a little thin sometimes, but before you know it another classic number is underway. Still, MY cheeks ached for all the grinning they had to do. But I hope I never feel the need to apologize for so thoroughly enjoying a show that affirms joy in life, respects the dignity of its audience, and delivers so many great songs, so very well.

"In Perfect Harmony" performs through September 4 at Heritage Square Music Hall in Golden. The Music Hall is also a dinner theatre, so you can enjoy a buffet meal before the performance. The same cast also runs a children's theatre, performing "Alice in Wonderland" on Saturdays and select weekdays, and has just added a Sunday night interactive mystery dinner theatre production of "Who Done It at the High School Reunion." Call 303-279-7800 or visit www.hsmusichall.com for tickets and information.