On a “starry” night of extraordinary performances, Mary Jo Vitale and Dave Olsen exceeded expectations with luminous vocal displays.
It was all part of The Villages Dollars for Scholars “Starry Starry 6: A Musical Odyssey”Saturday night at the Savannah Center. The group has raised over $300,000 for student scholarships over the past eight years.
“We been able to lend a helping hand to these students because of you,” said J.R. “Jim” Zurak, producer of the “Starry” shows. “Because of the generosity of people in The Villages, these students are able to continue their education. We thank you and now we’re going to entertain you.”
Vitale, the popular Villages singer who will soon give birth to her second child, was simply captivating as she sang “My Heart Will Go On.” Celine Dion turned the song a standard but Vitale’s understated and heartfelt delivery made a powerful and eloquent statement. Vitale, wearing an aqua gown and radiant aura, touched the audience in a special way.
So did Dave Olsen. He is best known for his stage performances and theatrical roles. He took on a new challenge Saturday: Johnny Cash.
Most people know Cash’s standards. But one of Cash’s last songs was a cover of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt,” originally done by Nine Inch Nails. Cash recorded the song the year of his death in 2003.
It’s one of the most powerful songs he ever made. “I think in a way, it’s him looking back at his life and knowing he doesn’t have much time left,” Zurak said. “I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I asked Dave to do it. I’m glad he did.”
Watch a clip from Starry Starry 6:
Olsen, wearing a black shirt and slacks, came on stage with an acoustic guitar. His voice was pained and pure as he started the melancholy song with these lyrics: “I hurt myself today/To see if I still feel/I focused on the pain/The only thing that’s real.”
Cash’s video for “Hurt” is considered one of the best of all-time. Olsen created the same mournful atmosphere with his gripping, emotional rendition.
“Starry Starry 6” was filled with exceptional entertainment. Zurak paid tribute to Oscar Feliu, the beloved Villages’ singer and entertainer, who died this week. “Oscar loved opera, and we loved Oscar,” Zurak said.
Two performers – Donna Gullstrand Davidson and Mark Schmidt – lived up to Feliu’s operatic legacy.
Gullstrand Davidson sang “Mon Coeur” from “Samson and Delilah.” The mezzo soprano, who has performed at the Kennedy Center and throughout the world, made the music come to life. Opera requires acting and character in addition to vocal prowess, and Gullstrand Davidson had all those qualities in abundance.
Schmidt, who performed with Oscar Feliu a few years ago, opened the show in grand style with a soaring tenor and riveting stage presence on “Vesti la Giubba.”
Jill Marrese and John Rogerson combined for a thoroughly entertaining medley from “My Fair Lady.” Marrese, delightfully charming and whimsical, looked straight out of Covent Garden, wearing a flowered hat and gown. She sat on a chair and sang, “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.” Then Marrese waltzed across the stage singing, “I Could Have Danced All Night.”
Rogerson was in vintage form wearing a Henry Higgins’ top hat and singing “On The Street Where You Live.” Whenever Marrese and Rogerson sing together, as they did on “The Rain in Spain,” sparks fly.
Suzie Casta came straight from the disco, sporting a beige blouse and a pair of tight, grey slacks. “I wish I could wear those kind of skinny jeans but they would never fit me,” Zurak cracked. Casta made Gloria Gaynor proud with a thumping version of “I Will Survive.” She showed a more serious side on “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Speaking of energy, Lydia Leduc wore a red dress and did her best Ethel Merman take on “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Leduc is a bundle of combustible energy and she had the crowd cheering.
Oldies But Goodies, featuring Bobalou Romano, Stephanie Reilly and Doug Skinner, brought some doo-wop sounds with a cover of the Del Vikings’ “Come and Go With Me.” The group created a street-corner harmony atmosphere and made Zurak talk about “greasy hair, Lucky Strike cigarettes tucked in my shirt-sleave and drive-in movies.”
Evolution Dance, featuring Diane Vargas with Chip and Phip Fuller, made the night seem like Broadway with numbers from “Chicago” and “The Best Is Yet to Come.” Vargas and the Fuller twins combined for a masterful tribute to “An American in Paris.”