By Ron Levitt

Florida Media News

ENV Magazine

The singing – as my grandkids would say – is awesome.  The dancing is near-perfection.  So, what more could anyone want out of a performance of Bubbling Brown Sugar – another of Broward Stage Door’s  truly enjoyable musical productions.

There is no question of just how much the audience appreciated  the rhythmic talent at this Coral Springs musical emporium which — in recent months — has produced knock-em -dead productions of La Cage Au Faux and its rendition of the  Broadway-bound revival, A Little Night’s Music,  Once again, Dee Bunn / David Torres and their  staff at  Broward Stage Door have done themselves proud with a fun musical, even though the storyline is minimal.

It’s the music – some 30-plus hits from the 1920s to 1940s – which make this an event worth seeing.  The cast is good – some, exceptionally good – but it is Director Dan Kelley, Musical Director Mark Goodman and Choreographer Chrissi Ardito who deserve the biggest bows.  Yes, their work is “awesome.”   Their handiwork makes this cast light up the stage.’

Bubbling Brown Sugar is a look at the music which came mostly out of Harlem during a 20 year span.  No matter what your age, you’ll find those rhythm and blues standards  irresistible  and – if you grew up in those days – you’ll come out humming and singing songs you may not have thought about in some time,

No, let’s not take anything away from this cast. All 16 of them sparkle in this seldom-seen treat.   Allison Semmes performs a Duke Ellington torch song so convincingly that the audience rousingly cheered her efforts; Nadeen Holloway, a Carbonell nominee, is a show-stopper with her “The’ll Be Some Changes Made”; and Roslyn Seale’s “God Bless the Child” showed a range of notes oblivious to the recorded music’s normal zone.   Chris Patterson, Rendell DeBose,  Jerrial Young are pure dynamos vocalizing and tapping; John Ramsey and Liz McFarlane are a joy to watch and hear;  and Broward Stage Door regular Marcus Allen continues to show off his amazing talent in song and dance.

Add to our list of budding entertainers  Teisha Duncan, David Menendez, Walter Kemp and a terrific ensemble – Amanda Bailey, Alicia Lawson, Jarvis Manning  Jr, and Shain Stroff  – and it’s the making of a terrific production.

Can  there be any doubt that this production elicits enthusiasm?

This show runs through Nov, 22. Don’t miss it! .  Call 954-344-7765.