New West Theatre is getting “ All Spruced Up” for the holiday season, though fortunately (for me at least) there isn’t much Christmas content in the show, which runs Dec. 14-Jan 2 in the Yates Theatre.
Instead a talented cast relive some favourites for years gone by as well as few new bits. Newcomer Alexa Elser and relative newcomer Tom DelBello plus New West veterans Kathy Zaborsky, Erica Hunt, Scott Carpenter and Kyle Gruninger all get to shine on stage in solo spots and a few group numbers.
The literal running joke of “All Spruced Up” is “latecomers“ Kathy Zaborsky and Kyle Gruninger arriving late for the show, running through the audience and across the stage to start the show and appearing throughout the numbers in various crazy costumes and casual wear in between jokes and lots of songs.
Elser sings a sultry version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” Tom Delbello brings back George Michael‘s “ Faith” as well as started off the show with the ’50s rock and roll of “ Good Rockin’ at Midnight.”
Kathy Zaborsky, playing grand piano and Alexa Elser play a beautiful version of ABBA‘s “Chiqititia” as their cat
Another of the highlights of the first set is the girls all taking a turn singing several ’80s hits from the Pointer Sisters, each taking the lead on “Jump With your Love ( Alexa Elser),” “ Neutron Dance (Erica Hunt) and “ I’m So Excited ” ( Kathy Zaborsky).
The comedy bits are always my favourite parts of the New West shows so there are plenty of them in “ All Spruced Up.”
Kyle Gruninger, Erica Hunt and Scott Carpenter perform hilarious PSAs about a haemorrhoids meeting at the hall on Bowden, movie addiction (in which Erica Hunt effortlessly includes the title of pretty much every hit movie over the past 40 years into the dialogue) and Scott Carpenter’s brilliant expression of bug eyed confusion talking about a memory loss group, except he can’t remember the time, location of the meeting or even his own name.
Reworked songs add extra humour. Erica Hunt winds down the first set with her hilarious impression of Wayne Newton complete with porn star moustache as she croons “Danke Schoen” while strutting all over the stage and into the audience.
In addition to some really beautiful moments like Kathy Zaborsky singing an operatic version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and a beautiful Bare Naked ladies medley featuring Alexa Elser and Tom DelBello, the second set also features some older and slightly more risque numbers.
Those were my favourite. New West brings back an older number, “Patricia The Stripper,” featuring Scott Carpenter singing lead while a grinning Erica Hunt, dressed in a flesh coloured body suit, boa and a strategically placed heart racing all over the stage as
Kyle Gruninger and Tom Delbello try to hit on her.
The other hilarious number features suggestive tool use featuring the cast singing a round about how to use a saw, hammer, screwdriver and wrench.
The Christmas potion of the show comes courtesy of the girls who sing a super fast, hyperactive, Barbra Streisand version of “Jingle Bells.”
Alexa Delbello and Alexa Elser have an excellent and timely vacation themed comedy bit about airlines charging extra for things like seats, seat belts and landing.
Erica Hunt and Scott Carpenter play well off each other in a couple other comedic bits about sleep dancing and another featuring their scrapping seniors characters trying to book a vacation to someplace exotic like Rio or else Waterton Park.
They end things with an ominous version of “Sixteen Tons” and finishing off the night with an exuberant version of “Ballroom Blitz.”
All Spruced up runs until Jan. 1. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. plus a 1 p.m. matinee on Dec. 26 and Jan 2.
