Mostly Musical Theatre

Cedar Point Live Entertainment 2014 June 1, 2014

Cedar Point’s summer season is off to a good start — with one of its best Live shows in over a decade: Lusty Lil’s at the Palace in Frontiertown scores points for the best entertainment CP has seen in years.

Following the “Wild West” theme, while using almost no older music and mostly pop and Broadway tunes, the show is funny, well directed, well choreographed, and very well presented by its cast that come from across the country. Also adding to the fun is a colorful versatile set, and some great costumes. Its harmless for the entire family, and there isn’t much in the way of anything “lusty” at all…true to its opening number from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’s “Nothing Dirty Going On”. Throw in some can-can, soft-shoe, barbershop quartet, and a nifty turn on “Favorite Son” from The Will Rogers Follies and its clear that someone smart and musical theater savvy is at the helm. Running a swift 30 minutes, the production features a live pianist and percussionist that play to a recorded track of other instruments. Be sure to stop by The Palace for a fun family show that you will truly say, “wow, I had no idea they did things like this at CP”…Here’s a glimpse:

Down the Frontier Trail, Rockin’ Country is the newest show at the Red Garter Saloon. Its a mish-mash of country pop tunes, none of which are memorable nor would you have ever heard them unless you listen to exclusively country stations. The cast here is excellent, with a great guitarist, percussionist, and gitfiddle player that play live to a recorded track. Vocals are strong, and they are at their best when the track drops out every now and again so you can actually hear them. The problem here, as has been the past three summers, is the horrendous sound system — the track is far too loud, causing the live musicians to play even louder, and leaving the vocalists shouting to be heard — the result, the vocals are incomprehensible mush…all of which could be solved with proper sound levels. But they are definitely going for the “loud rock sound” here, and its a failure. You’ll leave the teensy Red Garter with your ears ringing. It bears repeating that the cast here is very strong, its too bad they are handed such poor sound equipment to work with. Here’s a glimpse of what’s going on there:

At the Aquatic Stadium, Extreme Wheels returns again in a show that is nothing but crowd pleasing, but basically the same thing they do every summer: the stunts look great, the cast is enthusiastic, and the music selections are upbeat and fun. I admire the physicality of these folks…I just wonder how much longer until this attraction is gone. Its rumored that entire area is due for the next big CP facelift, and that will virtually guarantee this stadium will be gone a few seasons down the road. It looks like this:

On Broadway has opened late afternoon performances at the front of the park (same show as last year). It suffers  bit from over-amplifiction issues this season, but the college cast is strong and it remains a solid offering which for many park goes on the way to the front of the park will end their day.

The brand new ice skating show Snoopy Unleashed (with a strangely phallic logo) is a series of a half dozen or so “scenes” in which live skaters join Snoopy for some ice skating fun. The cast is strong, and the choreography here is particularly good in small-group (5 or 6) skater units — the footwork is good, and the charisma is excellent. Lacking a strong pairs skating team (the featured pair is adequate but not Shelton siblings from a few years ago) its none-the-less a solid and very professionally presented production. Audience favorite Trey Ayers performs several energetic routines.  Its a fun show, beautifully designed, lit, and costumed and you and your wee ones will have fun together.

Also back this year with all new songs (and flying stunts) is the end-of-the-day park celebration “Luminosity” with all new songs and a huge high-energy cast, lots of flame, lasers, and fireworks. Not everything works (A strange chinese-dragon type roller coaster for example) but overall its a superb way to wrap up your day at Cedar Point — and stay and dance awhile with the cast. Great fun.

Be sure to take some time off from Coaster riding to enjoy one of Cedar Point’s fine live entertainment productions. There are also many times during the day that special theatrical offerings are presented for the tiny tot set featuring Peanuts characters – both in Camp Snoopy on the Gemini midway, as well as on the Luminosity stage. These are very well done, and include plenty of mingling/photo time afterwards.