REVIEW — If you had to choose one rock-n-roll star whose life was cut short and whose potential legacy could have had the most impact had he lived, you’d be hard-pressed to not select Charles Hardin Holley, or as we know him, Buddy Holly.
The pride of Lubbock, Texas, whose lanky physicality and horn-rimmed glasses distinguished him from any of his peers had a meteoric career trajectory when he burst on the scene in 1957 with the number one hit “That’ll Be The Day.” He followed that over the next 18 months with no less than six more Top 40 hits. Though he died at the tender age of 22, Holly’s prolific catalog spawned dozens of hits for major artists for years.
Having seen the jukebox musical of his life in its earliest incarnation at London’s West End back in the early 90s, I can say its arrival here is long overdue, and it should thrill audiences much the same way that “Million Dollar Quartet” has over the past few years.
While the musical doesn’t delve too deeply into Holly’s life or influences, it does cover the important elements of his difficult road to stardom. From the unhappiness with Decca Records, his first record company that kept trying to coerce him into becoming a country and western artist, to his switch to producer Norman Petty (Luke Darnell), and his friendship with the popular local DJ Hipockets Duncan (Scott Wakefield), there’s enough background to inform audiences about his musical beginnings.
Most interestingly, Act One presents Holly and his band The Crickets (both a name and musical style that would heavily influence a certain group of kids from Liverpool a few years later) making their debut at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and being accidentally booked as black musicians. But that flattering faux paus doesn’t keep Buddy and the boys from tearing up the house and eventually winning over the crowd — with a little help from talented local guest stars Marlena (Jannie Jones) and Tyrone (Justin Marriel Boyd).
Holly is wonderfully depicted in both vocal style and manner by Andrew Harvey and is energetically (or in some cases acrobatically!) backed up by the excellent musicianship of bass player Joe Mauldin (Roy Brown) and drummer Jerry Allison (Ken Sandberg).
But it isn’t fair to single out only a few musicians, because the entire cast is filled with amazing voices and skilled multi-instrumentalists. Under the direction of Angela C. Howell (who gets stage time too), the venue turns into a jam-session party of timeless classics including “Not Fade Away,” “Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy,” and “Rave On.”
Perhaps most effective are the show’s tender moments, especially Harvey’s moving interpretations of “Everyday” and “Words of Love,” inspired by his at-first-sight romance and then first-date marriage proposal to Maria Elena (Sophia Marie Guerrero). It would have been nice to see their unique (for the era) multi-racial relationship explored more deeply.
But one aspect the show gets perfectly right is Holly’s fateful final concert in Clear Lake, Iowa where he is joined on stage by fellow Winter Dance Party tour artists the Big Bopper (Jayson Elliot) and Ritchie Valens (Estevan Hernandez), both of whom electrify the audience. It’s an iconic moment deftly portrayed here with tragic beauty.
Director-Choreographer Keith Andrews and crew have balanced wonderfully the nostalgic celebration of Holly’s immense impact and combined that with a superbly talented cast to depict the tender realization of the void created by Holly’s premature passing at such a young age.
Tuacahn’s “The Buddy Holly Story” serves as a welcomed examination of a singular rock-n-roll pioneer, and a fun tribute concert that tugs at the heartstrings at all the right moments.
“The Buddy Holly Story” plays at the indoor Hafen Theatre through Aug. 12 with ticket prices ranging from $24 to $66. Children under age 3 are not permitted. Contact Tuacahn.org or 435-652-3300 for tickets and information.
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