You could describe the “Mother’s Day Tribute” by Dawn DiNome and Mary Jo Vitale in two words – mama mia.
A packed crowd at Lake Miona Recreation Center on Sunday was treated to a musical feast featuring moms, mother-in-laws, daughters and grandmas. Even a few sons, husbands, dads, father-in-laws and grandpas were tossed in for the DiNome and Vitale families.
Put them all together and you had a family celebration of motherhood in all its musical glory.
“This is a lot better than a late dinner at a restaurant on Mother’s Day,” DiNome joked early on.
She and Vitale looked like a couple of red-hot mamas, wearing feathered red boas to go with short red-and-black dresses with feathers in their hair.
The costumes fit right in with the flapper number from “Cabaret” called “Don’t Tell Mama.” The singers two real-life moms – Connie DiNome and Rosalie Vitale – appeared on stage near the end of the song.
“Don’t worry mama, we’re changing out of these costumes,” Dawn and Mary Jo said. Vitale then took a solo number on stage, covering Martina McBride’s country rocker, “This One’s For the Girls.”
Then DiNome came back for an emotional number, dedicated to her daughter, Olivia, 9. “This song says it all for me,” DiNome said, as she started to sing another McBride number, “In My Daughter’s Eyes.”
Olivia was sitting in the front row, directly in front of her mother. “You know, the toughest part of doing this show is not crying,” DiNome said, fighting back tears.
Vitale indicated she has come to realize just how much her mother has meant over the years. “I want to thank my Mom for not killing me,” she cracked.
Then Vitale remembered some of her mother’s favorite sayings. “My favorite momism was: ‘You can’t be a little bit pregnant. That scared me a lot, especially in high school.”
DiNome also remembered some scolding words from her mom. “When I got upset, she would say: ‘Talk louder, Dawn, we can’t hear you.’”
Both singers then turned serious and spoke of the meaning of a mother’s love. They expressed it with heartfelt sincerity in a duet on Connie Francis’ song, “Mama.” Vitale sang the lyrics in Italian, while DiNome offered the words in English.
“When they sang that song, it really got to me,” Rosalie Vitale said.
The two singers talked about raising their own kids. Vitale has a son, Daniel, 8, and a daughter, Lila Rose, 2. They joined Olivia and the moms on stage for a tender “You’ve Got A Friend.” Little Lila Rose had a blast, running around picking up feathers and then rolling a red rubber ball down the stage.
“I don’t want my kid to be afraid, but it’s a scary world out there,” DiNome said.
“We will always be there for them,” Vitale added, as she and DiNome combined to sing “Let Me Be There,” made famous by Olivia Newton-John.
At times, it seems the hardest part of motherhood is seeing a child leave home. Vitale captured that emotion, singing “Let It Go” from “Frozen.”
The two moms had some fun rapping their way through “You’re Welcome.” DiNome wore a house dress and curlers as she romped around the stage picking up clothes and laundry. Vitale wore a black T-shirt with the words, “Tired As a Mother” as she helped clean house.
Both turned serious once more, singing “The Wind Beneath My Wings” for their moms, who are their heroes.
“We’re not only talking about moms, but grandmas and great grandmas who mean so much to all of us,” Vitale said.
That led to a parody of the “Chicago” song, “When You’re Good To Mama,” which turned into “When You’re Good to Grandma (Grandma’s good to you).”
Then the women combined for a stirring duet on “The Prayer.” DiNome showed the strength and determination of motherhood on “Days of Plenty” from the musical “Little Women.” Vitale was equally impressive on “Even Now.”
“Every mother worries and prays for their children,” Vitale said, leading into a duet on “The Prayer.” The show ended with the audience clapping and singing along as DiNome and Vitale sang “Lean on Me.”
Both mothers of the performers were deeply moved by the program.
“This makes Mother’s Day so special,” said Connie DiNome. “I loved it.”
So did Rosalie Vitale.
“It was beautiful, especially when the children were on stage,” she said. “To see the kids with their mothers was so special.”
And that’s what Mother’s Day is all about.
