Elk Lake Drama brings boogie-woogie fun

The cast of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Girls” sings the opening number, the classic “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

If Andrews Sisters’ harmonies or Vaudeville-style show tunes make you tap your toes, Elk Lake Drama Club’s “Boogie Woogie Bugle Girls” will fit the bill on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5.
Showtime is 7 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $3 and available at the door.
The show is directed by Ina Bradish, with Rita Edwards as assistant director; Melanie Transue as technical director; Kathy Zayleskie as costume director; and Tonya Boatman as the choral director and accompanist.
Bradish said although the song “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” wasn’t included in the original score for the play, she added it as the opening number because she always loved the song.
Boatman said that her favorite song is, “My Wife Can’t Cook,” sung by jugband hillbillies.
While World War II rages in Europe, the Bugle Sisters (Cydney DeWitt, Madeline Spila, and Caitlyn Brown) turn their grandfather’s hotel into a canteen.
The girls wish to help with the war effort, but they really want to save the Seaside Hotel from the hands of a ruthless businessman, Skylar Schutt (Georgie Sobeck), who intends to snap it up for delinquent taxes owed.
When Schutt accuses Grandpa Buddy (Travis Tewksbury) of being a German spy, the girls, with a little help from the Ladies League for Coastal
Defense, declare all-out war.
It isn’t long before a platoon of spies surface. Everyone becomes suspicious of everyone else, until a night-time reconnaissance mission reveals the real traitor.
Hannah Decker, who plays one of the Women’s League members, said, “The play started out very rough this year, and we weren’t working well together. However, now everybody has really been pulling together to teach each other dance moves, help others remember lines, and the atmosphere has been all around positive! I’m really enjoying myself this fall, with all of my fellow actors.”
Caleb Shafer, who plays Sammy Smith, said that the strong points of the production are “very good singing, some spread out comedy, and suspense and mystery. It is definitely a worthy show, especially compared to last year’s “Back to the 80’s.”
Travis Tewksbury, who plays the lead role as Grandpa Buddy Bugle, had a lot to say about the show. “There are many great voices that show up throughout the years in our drama club. And this year, we have a few who really just take the cake.

“For starters, we have Georgie Sobeck. This kid is phenomenal, not only is he a great young singer, but you can put him in any role and he will really make the part work. This young man has a serious future with a voice like his.”

Tewksbury continued, “Surprisingly enough, the second name that comes to mind in the singing department is Josie Sobeck, who, like her older brother, really steals the show when she sings. For only being in sixth grade, she can really put her voice out there. Lastly, in terms of fantastic performers, we have William Farnelli. As well as being one of the most advanced singers I know, Will can make any character he is cast as come to life. His acting and singing puts him in a class of his own, and I would personally like to see him score larger roles in future years. Like I said, the group we have here at Elk Lake sure is a talented one, and I would sure hate to be the one to miss the show this weekend.”