The Bailey Dolls and Friends present: The Vintage Variety Hour

Classy dinner theatre in a classy venue. The Bailey Dolls and Friends present: The Vintage Variety Hour is a wonderful night of theatre, a delight to the ears and a lot of fun to boot!

The Bailey Dolls are Merrilyn Greer, Catherine Hearne, Leah Gauthier and Gillian Quinn, together with two very dapper friends, Buddy Dawson and Sebastian Cooper.  This wonderfully talented group are very ably accompanied by The Duckies – Emma Knights on piano, Sean Renaud on bass, Barnabas Smith on drums, and Chris Weber on trumpet.

From start to finish this is true entertainment. Stunning matching costumes on the ladies, with accompanying 40’s hairstyles set the era and scene. The audience loved this show - there was much participation, including props and even a conga line. Beautiful harmonies, both accompanied and acapella, were delivered with sass and class.

Highlights for me were “Lullaby of Broadway”, sung beautifully in the audience, and a medley from Guys and Dolls, acted and sung with gusto. Chris Weber’s trumpet work was masterful - particularly in “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Buddy Dawson and Sebastian Cooper also brought, as ‘friends’ to The Bailey Dolls, an interesting storyline and depth in vocals.

It was however, in this reviewer’s opinion, the experience and vivaciousness of the Bailey Dolls themselves that was the real drawcard of the evening. This was reflected in the enthusiasm of the audience who clamored for the team to come back on stage for a very welcome encore of “Shout” and “In the Mood”. This is a fabulous night of theatre where you will find yourself carried away on the ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ joyride that is The Bailey Dolls.   

Shelley Hampton

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