DATE: Thursday, May 29, 1997                TAG: 9705280134

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 05   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THEATER REVIEW 

SOURCE: Montague Gammon III 

                                            LENGTH:   83 lines

HURRAH PLAYERS' REVUE EXCEPTIONAL, AS USUAL

The Hurrah Players must be the most reliably enjoyable entertainment group in Tidewater. Artistic Director Hugh Copeland ends every season of family shows with a musical revue that showcases fine young talent in a well-chosen mixture of popular songs and big, upbeat dance routines.

Copeland, who directs and choreographs, uses a tried-and-true format. An annually fresh combination of contemporary pop with Broadway and Disney tunes is leavened with touches of country, jazz, new and old rock, and gospel. This year he and additional choreographer Mia Colden even turned the ``Mission Impossible'' theme into a compelling piece of modern dance.

Like the revues that have preceded it, ``Zip-A-Dee-Hur-rah'' has its exceptional individuals, but even more than in years past, this revue is an achievement of the entire Hurrah Players ensemble. Even the most notable performers are usually at their best when they are part of a group.

This isn't to slight some of the outstanding solos. Chelsie Darling, for one, shows that a clear, true singing voice has a place in country music with her rendition of ``Blue.'' John Dewey's strong, mature delivery of ``Oklahoma'' would be welcome in any number of adult companies.

Dewey also makes good use of his controlled, expressive voice in ``Jesus Christ Superstar,'' which cleverly merges into a choral version of ``Godspell's'' ``Day by Day.''

Another mature vocal performance comes from Sarah Dewey, whose vibrato and clarity make ``I Could Have Danced all Night'' memorable. Adrienne Warren is especially good in ``Give My Regards to Broadway,'' as was Sarah Viccelio in ``Basin Street Blues'' and Lindsay Nusbaum in ``Getting To Know You.''

Amber Wiley is yet another young singer to watch. Wiley combines the delivery of a good actress with the voice of a night-club singer when she teams with Rachel Ford for ``Emotional Girl,'' and solos in ``What I Did for Love.''

A comic high point of the show is the novelty tune ``Mississippi Squirrel Revival,'' led well by Mickey Wiley. Wiley also does fun solos of ``The Bare Necessities'' and ``Purple People Eater.''

The remarkable vocalist of the show may be Kaitlin Bowles, whose talent was easy to pick out of group numbers even before she did her energizing solo of ``Alexander's Ragtime Band,'' and her funny, innocently eager version of ``I Can't Say No.''

Even Bowles takes second seat to young Abby Beam in the introductory solos for ``I'm Old Enough to Sing the Blues,'' one of the big production numbers. Dan Geroe, who looks even younger, makes more than one such piece his property. ``Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,'' ``Seventy-Six Trombones'' and ``the Ballad of Davy Crockett'' are three songs that let him strut his stuff most effectively.

Some of the youngest performers can be picked out of groups by their nascent abilities. Nakeya Hudson is one who will be a stellar presence in a very few years.

Mary Kathryn Young has already made that transition from promising child performer, in revues of just a couple of years ago, to sharply talented adolescent. She usually appeared as one of Four Comic Ladies. These elderly characters popped up at various times to comment on or to join the action on stage. The other three were Jennifer Chambers, Catherine Deaver, and Stephanie Tillman, who all also took part in choral numbers.

There are two more performers who deserve special mention: Kenton Myers and Angel Trent.

Myers' presence, with his muscular dancing, defined acting and firm vocal abilities, dominates more than one place in which he appears. He even choreographed his impressive big number, a show-stopping tap piece titled ``Bring in da Noise.''

Trent, whether she is singing a solo in ``Happy Days Are Here Again'' and ``Part of Your World,'' serving as a featured dancer or a member of the ensemble, marks her every moment on stage with headlong commitment and crisp execution. She's a consumate song seller, overflowing with charisma. Movements as small as the lift of her eyebrow or the tilt of her head carry the same intensity as grand leaps.

Trent and Meyers each have enviable, lifelong futures on the stage, but for now they are integral members of a group that provides delightful entertainment for local audiences of all ages. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: ``Zip-A-Dee-Hur-rah,'' presented by the Hurrah Players

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday; 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Wells Theatre, Tazewell Street and Monticello Avenue

TICKETS: 627-5437

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