Davis High knocks it out of the park with performance of "Bye Bye Birdie"

Plus a tribute to Dave Burmester that brought smiles and laughter and tears

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER ... Every year, it seems, the Davis High Theater Department comes up with another blockbuster musical that makes me change my weekend plans so I can see it again.

I remember a couple of years ago being so blown away by the production of Mamma Mia! that I even forgave the exclamation point in its title.

I was in the audience at The Brunelle for last Friday's opening night of another smash hit, "Bye Bye Birdie," which in my mind definitely needs a comma after the first "Bye" and maybe even after the second.

Be that as it may, it was among the best two hours I've spent on a Friday night, even though I knew nothing of the story line in the musical until I walked in the door and took an aisle seat so I could stretch out my legs in case I got bored and fell asleep.

I shouldn't have worried about that possibility.

Theater was not exactly my strong suit when I was growing up in this town. I was in only two school plays while attending Davis schools.

In second grade at Central Davis School we presented the critically acclaimed "I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A fly."

I played the fly. No more needs to be said.

In seventh grade at Davis Junior High School, I played the young Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," and blew my only line, "But Bell," when Bell was telling me to go directly to a place that rhymed with "Bell."

Thank heavens there was a program for "Bye Bye Birdie" to explain the background of what I was about to witness.

From the title, I pretty much assumed it was a documentary produced by the Audubon Society about the beloved but endangered California condor.

Turns out, according to the program, "The musical was inspired by the drafting of Elvis Presley into the Army in 1957. The titular character's name, "Conrad Birdie," is a word play on the name Conway Twitty, who was one of Elvis Presley's Rock 'N' Roll rivals.

Who knew?

All I know is that the high school student who played Conrad Birdie (Miller Traum) made us all believe that Elvis himself was truly in the house that night.

I'd name all 30 cast members because they were all superb, but you can grab a program for yourself as "Bye Bye Birdie" repeats this weekend, Friday at 7, Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 2.

Equally impressive was the 31-member live student orchestra whose never-miss-a-beat performance added immeasurably to our enjoyment.

Go Blue Devils.

You will all go far.

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR ... The incomparable Chad Fisk, who has directed a number of plays and musicals at Davis High, included a note about the late, great Dave Burmester in the "Bye Bye Birdie" program.

Wrote Fisk: "On January 16th, the world lost a great teacher, director and person: Dave Burmester. I count Dave as an essential and enduring influence in my theatrical life. He founded Acme Theatre company, using it to build community and to build character and grit in his students in an atmosphere of warmth and respect.

"In the days following Dave's passing, many who worked with him shared reminiscences and reflections. Though these reflections varied, a common theme sums up for me the unique way he impacted us. He trusted us with tasks we were not yet quite up to. And he had faith that we would rise to his trust.

"He meted out to students roles more often filled by adults - I was briefly Acme's master carpenter - and we figured it out. It was messy. We gained new skills through trying, sometimes failing, and learning. Whether or not we continued in the theater, we were each imprinted with a template of accepting scary challenges and rising to them.

"I've tried to carry the torch at Davis High. The show you are about to see was designed by students and recent grads. A board of students took the lead in publicity, front of house and production. Impressively, Davis High students created and coordinated the orchestra, our first since the pandemic. And that orchestra is conducted by a twelfth-grade student (Carlos Chavez).

"Though many adults support the students in various ways, the students are running the show onstage and off. To quote Mr. McAfee with a very different subtext, "Kids today!"

"A show like this seems the perfect testament to a man who spent his life enriching the lives of his students. I dedicate this production to Dave Burmester, whose legacy of youth-led theater thrives in Davis, and whose kind spirit still ripples through the world."

SPEAKING OF DAVE BURMESTER ... Last Saturday's celebration of the life of Dave Burmester at the Veterans Memorial Theater was highlighted by the naming of the stage at that venue in his honor.

There were heartfelt talks by his children, his friends and his former students. There were some great improv performances, some beautiful dance numbers and a stirring rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" that had the packed house singing along so joyfully that we could be heard all the way to Woodland.

I thought the standing ovation for Dave's wife and partner, Libby, would never end.

Indeed, there were many laughs and many tears and our hearts were all full to overflowing as we left the theater where Dave was responsible for so many unforgettable performances.

His legacy will live on in our town, in the lives of those he touched and on the stage that now bears his name.

Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com