In a show filled with tricky witches, phantoms, and purple people eaters, Larry Rivellese provided an operatic treat with a stunning version of “Nessun Dorma.”
Puccini’s music may have seemed out of place in the Halloween-themed Showcase of Talent Friday at La Hacienda Recreation Center but Rivellese made it fit right in. He earned a long and loud standing ovation.
“That is a very powerful song, no matter when or where you sing it,” Rivellese said. “That song has special meaning and when I sing, I can feel it deep within me.”
Rivellese was known as “the singing plumber” when he auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” a few years back. Over the years he has won local and national talent competitions.
“I just love to sing,” he said.
Watch exclusive video of the Showcase here:
Diana Arlt and her husband, Joe, started the monthly Talent Showcases. She teamed with Rivellese on another show-stopper, “All I Ask of You,” from “Phantom of the Opera.” She held her own with the tenor’s booming vocal.
“Larry is classically trained and has an incredible voice,” Arlt said. “It’s a joy to sing with him.”
Those were the more serious numbers during a show packed with fun, costumes and surprises.
The Village Twirlers and Drum Corps kicked off the night in grand style with a tribute to “Phantom of the Opera.” All members of the Drum Corps wore Phantom masks. The twirlers, led by Captain Ann Pelle, wore shortened versions of the elegant gowns from the stage musical.
The Twirlers and Drum Corps blended sounds, moves and music from the Phantom into an impressive team performance.
Alan and Dodie Fisher were up next and set the atmosphere with a cover of the Classic’s IV’s “Spooky.” Alan Fisher wore a long black cape and played keyboards while Dodie made like Little Red Riding Hood with a red cape as she sang on stage.
Bobby Petrucelli showed up dressed like a mad scientist and sounded a bit like Boris Karloff – or Bobby “Boris” Pickett — singing, “The Monster Mash.” Petrucelli’s yellow bulging eyes were as Count Dracula might say, “very scary.”
Speaking of scary, who knew Lydia Leduc could be such a witch. The Villages line dance teacher was decked out in a black spider-web outfit as she slinked about the stage and sang, “I Put a Spell on You.”
If that wasn’t enough, the “Flying Purple People Eater” showed up with the Travelin’ Shoes Cloggers. Armando Ocampo was the Eater and he chased three purple people: Linda Bitterly, Stanley Martin and Gladys Pudillo.
Georgianne Hill, who will star in “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour Tribute,”Nov. 17-19 at Savannah Center, displayed her Cher tribute vocal on “Gypsys Tramps and Thieves.”
Diana Arlt paid homage to Karen Carpenter with a soft and moving version of “This Masquerade.” Melody Gardner hit all the right notes on “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” Polly Boone wore a witch’s costume and oversized black hat as she did a Halloween lyrical twist on the old Patsy Cline standard called, “Stalking AfterMidnight.”
Juanita Doyle always delivers a solid performance and brought some spooky spunk to “Love Potion Number 9.”
The Shaka Crew Dance Company closed the show in true ghoulish style with their zombie-rock take on “Thriller,” choreographed by Violet Ray. The Crew has been doing this number the past few years and it’s one of the highlights of The Villages’ holiday season.