A booming rendition

While I’m a bit young to be considered a member of the baby boomer generation (although you could probably slot me somewhere between the Nintendo and Power Rangers generation), the fine people at the Port Polson Players let me sneak in and take in “Those Boomer Boys” last weekend at the John Dowdall Theatre.

I promise you that despite having Katy Perry and Sirmixsalot on my computer’s music playlist, I also have an appreciation for “real” music.

The production, which has been performed in Polson and on tour, was a real-life iPod of the most classic songs of the baby boomer generation. While there wasn’t any Nellie or Eminem played, theatre-goers were treated to classics like “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Blue Suede Shoes.”

The on-stage talent of John Glueckert, Steve Nelson, Bob Mazurek and Neal Lewing was tremendous. The marathon that they ran, singing song after song, live, highlights not just the theatrical talent in this valley but the musical talent as well.

Amazingly, they were all performed acoustically and the range of voices demonstrated was something to behold.

Coming from a guy who gets winded after one song on the karaoke machine, it’s really hard for me to imagine the challenge of performing classic songs for two hours straight.

And performing them well.

Sprinkled in was witty banter and dialogue, all written by the show’s actors and accented by the fine piano work of Trish Tavenner. While it’s tough for me to imagine a time before that magical website called Facebook and texting my friends while attending church — the Boomers did a great job of capturing that nostalgic feeling that these classic songs can give an individual.

There were 68 songs listed in the program, but I believe there were more sprinkled throughout the production. The crowd at the Saturday night show seemed very enthusiastic about the product on the stage. “The Boomer Boys” showed yet again that if you’re looking for an evening of quality entertainment, you should make a point of attending the local theater.

Hopefully this won’t be the last time that “The Boomer Boys” takes the stage, and be sure to enjoy “The Boomer Babes” which will play at the John Dowdall Theatre Aug. 9-26. That will give theater-goers the lass’ tuneful take of love, laughs and lads.