By Doug Iden
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story explores the innovative but tragically shortened life of the Rock and Roll icon at the Covedale Theater.
The Plot and Characters
Starting in Lubbock, Texas in 1956, three childhood friends create a trio called Buddy Holly and the Crickets, originally as a country western group but quickly gravitating to Rock and Roll in its infancy. Encouraged by local DJ “Hi-Pockets” Duncan (Ryan J. Poole), Buddy Holly (Keaton Eckhoff) and his group quickly become popular locally and decide to sign with Decca Records. Holly discovers immediately the tyrannical aspects of the Music Business and quickly leaves Decca. The group moves to Clovis, New Mexico under the tutelage of Norman Petty (also played by Poole), an innovative but somewhat unscrupulous businessman. Petty agrees to be the Crickets personal manager on a handshake. Within a few months, several of their songs written by Holly skyrocket to the top of the popular charts. Most of the scene transitions are handled as radio interviews with Holly.
Now in New York City, Holly and the Crickets split due to creative differences, but Holly stays with Petty. Holly meets Petty’s receptionist Maria Elena Santiago (Anyuli Martinez-Gomez) and, after a whirlwind 5-hour romance, proposes. Now, forced into a solo career with a pregnant wife, Holly launches a tour including two other musical up-and-comers The Big Bopper (Poole) and Ritchie Valens (Jovanni Candia). The tour leads them to Clear Lake, Iowa in a major snowstorm. Against the advice of many, the three singers take a plane which crashes, killing the young men in their prime.
Themes
The primary theme is the journey of a young man with a vision and passion for a new style of music, singing and orchestration. The more subtle, often merely hinted at, darker themes are the rapaciousness of the music business and racism directed at Holly (the Apollo Theater scene) and Maria Elena. We also see the disparity of country/western and rock and roll music.
Musical Numbers
The action of most of the musical numbers are in either a recording studio or a concert venue. Of the 23 songs, nine are Holly’s with Petty listed as co-composer (a common ploy at that time). The remaining songs are from various rock and roll composers. The Cricket’s first big hit is “That’ll Be the Day.” Then comes “Peggy Sue,” “Maybe Baby” and “Oh Boy.”
Terris Bates warms up the Apollo audience (and us) with an enthusiastic version of “Shout” while Poole (Bopper) electrifies with “Chantilly Lace” and Candia (Valens) rocks the crowd with “La Bamba.” Eckhoff’s excellent interpretation of Holly’s singing style and stage presence leads an impressive array of singers and dancers in the remaining numbers. Other Cricket members include Joe Memory, Brian Malone and Rogers plus Jennie Malone on piano who also plays Petty’s wife Vi. A live, on-stage band led by Director/Music Director Hunter Henrickson punctuates the often riveting and captivating music.
Dancing
Choreographer Natalie Hershman leads an extraordinary dance team of Bates, Emmarie Brewer, Mia Mires, Zoe Akayla Bullock and Caleb Freed. This is not a traditional dancing chorus line but rather a group of “youngsters” jiving to the concert music of Holly.
Production Team
Brett Bowling creates a static set reminiscent of a stage with four large caricatures of Holly in concert enhanced by numerous props including recording studios, mics, sofas, and representations of four gold records. Costumes, by Jenny Herndon, include 1950’s casual clothes, western attire and various stage costumes with bright, sometimes gaudy, ornamentation. The Crickets normally perform in well-fitted business suits and ties.
Overall
This is an early version of a “jukebox” musical with the usual mix of dramatic theater and a concert venue. This is a meatier version than many others, so there is a lot to follow. It uses Holly’s music to tell his personal story but with deeper content. Eckhoff as Holly is the key performer, followed closely by Poole. Poole plays three different parts in a scene-eating, over-the-top comedic performance. Audiences will really get into the show, and be encouraged by the stage performers, making it a joyful evening.
So, tune up your guitar, grab your dancing shoes and rock and roll on down to the Covedale Theater for BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story running through February 15. Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at 513-241-6550.
NOTE: Saturday Night and Sunday Matinee performances are cancelled due to the impending snow storm. Call the box office Monday at 513-241-6550 to reschedule your tickets. Performance added Saturday, February 14 @ 2 pm.
