Joanie Young was a lot of laughs before she came to The Villages and she’s still a hoot.
That’s the way she was Friday for “Lovin’ the Lifestyle – The Musical” at Savannah Center. The Off Broadway Players’ music, dance and comedy show about life in The Villages will be presented again tonight (Saturday) at 7 p.m. in Savannah.
“I’ve been doing comedy for the past 50 years and I’m not about to stop,” said Young, who has lived in The Villages for nearly two decades. “I love comedy. I love hearing people laugh. When you make people happy, it makes you feel good.”
Young’s costume featured a wide, upturned, red and blue brim hat, with long red boa feathers dangling over a long blue dress and furry red slippers.
“Believe it or not, I got this stuff out of my closet,” Young said. “I like wild clothes but what I love more is that audience out there. They are so receptive.”
Why not, this was a cock-eyed but joyous look at America’s so-called friendliest hometown. Among the topics for satire: golf, retirement, grandchildren, husbands, wives, urgent care centers, jobs, town squares and, of course, Villagers themselves.
“I’m living here for a couple of reasons, to have a good time and embarrass my children – and I think I’m doing a good job at it,” Young said on stage.
The fast-paced show was directed and choreographed by Shirley Keith of the Off Broadway Players. “We do two shows a year and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “Everything goes to charity. So, if you have a worthwhile charity, let us know.
Barbara Hanberry, John Kintz, John Muller and Charlie Snyder kicked things off with that ode to retirement, “Nice Work If You Can Get It,”
The Basic Tap Class clicked on stage to the old ‘60s’ rocker, “Keep On Dancin’.”
The Off Broadway Dancers flashed their skill on a series of numbers: “Dancin’ In the Street,” “Workin’ For a Living,” “Money, Money, Money,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “American Patrol.”
The singers provided plenty of styles and musical numbers.
Diana Arlt was in sharp vocal form on “Fly Me To the Moon.” She teamed with Jan Lavin on “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and then sang a duet with John Muller on “Your Just in Love.”
George Pieper delivered one of the vocal highlights of the evening with a powerful version of Steve Lawrence’s pop hit, “Portrait of My Love.”
Bob Brandoni covered Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay,” and was silky smooth on “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”
The ever-classy Jan Lavin displayed versatility on a couple of solos, “Nine to Five,” and “The Rose.”
The funniest number of the night came when Lynne Albers, Oscar Lovering and Joe Sieczka – armed with clubs – sang “The Golf Song,” to the tune of “Sixteen Tons.”
Albers had some fun rocking out with “Sharp Dressed Man,” as a bevy of cool-looking Villages’ dudes paraded past her.
Barbara Hanberry also turned up the beat with Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” as the Pattern Partner Dancers kicked out some jams on stage.
Oscar and Linda Lovering added folk music with “If I Had a Hammer,” and Kintz, Abate, Hanberry and Carole Oliver also brought a folk vibe to the classic, “This Land is Your Land.”
Patrick O’Brien, along with Pat Crimi, Lynn Damaske and Barbara O’Brien turned back the clock to 1957 with Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire.”
