Review: Musical performance sets mood of romance

The Community Council on the Performing Arts is giving us a musical love fest this week with their current production. "Love Is In The Air" is a delightful assortment of love songs that will set the mood for Valentine's Day along with filling us with pride for the talents displayed by our local choir.

The members of the choir range from those who just love to sing, to trained musicians with years of experience. Under the direction of Teresa Sword, each member adds his or her individual talent to make a perfect blend for the musical evening.

I arrived early for the rehearsal and enjoyed watching the friendship and appreciation that each member has for the others as they posed for pictures, helped arrange props on the stage and visited with each other. However when the curtain was opened for the performance it was professional time.

The red, white and silver flowers, hearts, teddy bears, greenery and lights set the stage for the romantic mood of the songs.

The first two numbers were performed with a recorded accompaniment. Although it was done very well and the extra instruments in the recording added to the songs, my initial reaction was disappointment that the beautiful grand piano in the middle of the stage was not being used. That disappointment quickly changed to pleasure as the evening progressed because the piano was used, not by just one accompanist, but by three different members of the choir. Teresa Sword's varied talents enabled her to direct the choir while also playing the piano. Two other singers, Barbara Fortney and Sylvia Martin, also lent their pianist talents for some of the songs. Scott Theis's guitar was another background for his song.

The women of the choir performed one song with no accompaniment, which highlighted the range of their voices.

The talents of the choir were enhanced by variations in the staging for the songs. The men; David Bishop, Bill Martin, Josiah Rice, Scott Theis, Jim Harms, Kenny Jones, Robert Palmer, Donald Ramage, John Scarbourgh and Dennis Thomas were featured in some numbers while the women enjoyed listening. Then the tables were turned and the women; Anne Baze, Amanda Broughton, Heather Hagenson, Teresa Hagenson, Marsha Harper, Deanna Johnston, Lynda Jones, Sylvia Martin, Ruth Rice, Lorena Suschnick, Sharon Wolfe, Kim Yarick, Barbara Fortney, Karen Irwin, Connie Ledbetter and Jane Anne Peterson, sang for the audience and the men's enjoyment. But the entire choir was involved in the majority of the evening.

Soloists included Bill Martin, Sylvia Martin, David Bishop, Scott Theis, and Teresa Sword. Many number included some action, dancing, or body language, and all numbers included smiles from the singers.

The songs chosen for the performance range from such popular oldies as "It had to be you", to less well-known ones as "Love Never Fails". Each generation will find several selections that bring back memories, but will also appreciate hearing some that are new to them.

The Quitno family, who sponsored this seasonal treat deserves our thanks along with all the hardworking members of the choir, and the CCPA for giving us this opportunity to hear good music, have a good time, and share an evening or afternoon of love.

Performances will be at 8 p.m., Feb.12-14, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Fox Playhouse, 110 S. Main St., Nevada.