DEAR EDITOR:
APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!!
If you haven’t seen
”
American Ideal,
”
John Bisceglie’s and Gilroy Community Services’ latest
extravaganza show with South County’s overabundance of talented
youth, do yourself a favor!
DEAR EDITOR:
APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!!
If you haven’t seen “American Ideal,” John Bisceglie’s and Gilroy Community Services’ latest extravaganza show with South County’s overabundance of talented youth, do yourself a favor! Reserve a ticket and spend a few hours that promise to do more good for your spirit than a trip to confession or an hour of psychotherapy.
Although at times we may all have stifled guilty yawns, prevailed upon by relatives and neighbors to attend some show and see “little Bobby or Suzy perform,” this is not one of those times as Johnny B. and company have outdone themselves!
The talent, energy and spirit of these young people combine with John and his staff’s creative savoir-faire and technical expertise in a multi-media production that is truly entertaining and threatens to pop Gilroy’s historic City Hall and depressed downtown right into the 21st century.
“American Ideal” is a fun, punchy, and inventive community show, but is also well-heeled in high-tech dress-up. A variety of staged musical acts – including solo artists, duets, quartets, even chorus lines, from children to young adult – perform against a finely-honed backdrop of video filming, including special effects, animation, behind-the-scene takes and candids, complimented by good musical orchestration. This heady mix is engaging, humorous, a bit sentimental, and definitely captivating in a clever, collaborative spin down the memory lanes of American pop music.
I am awed by John’s innate ability to inspire great effort from even tiny tykes and know first-hand his tireless dedication to “showbiz” process is high-octane infectious. At times, he can be a tough taskmaster aspiring to high standards, and these kids not only meet them, they come to cherish the experience. With the tremendous support of committed parents and staff, they take with them not only memories of having been part of something larger than themselves, but of having stood in that magic spotlight, many of whom may never again feel quite that way as more grown-up plans and demands encompass their lives.
I believe they also learn the value of hard work and self-discipline, gain an appreciation for teamwork and play, acquire increased confidence and a greater knowledge of not only themselves, but of “a bigger picture” which cannot help but serve them wherever they go in life. Add to that a dose of courage to act in the face of fear (as in overcoming stage fright!) and you have a worthy sketch of American ideals!
I was moved by the all-cast numbers in which anyone with heart will be struck by the joy, pride and hope inherent in these faces that represent the shape and scope of America’s future. There is beauty in the diversity of kids sharing that stage – all sizes, all shapes, many ethnicities, with myriad personalities and abilities – singing, dancing, working together to a unified whole as in “the show must go on!” For anyone with doubts about the future of the planet at this globally chaotic time, this show is a must-see testimonial to goodness, cooperation and collaboration.
Sandra Marlowe, Gilroy
Submitted Tuesday, Jan. 28 to ed****@ga****.com
