Gary Waldman & Jamison Troutman presented BUNGALOW BUNNIES, a musical by Gary Waldman at the Wilton Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2000) ... the following is a review published in South Florida Entertainment News & Views ...

October 27, 2000

Bungalow Bunnies a New Musical at the Wilton Playhouse

By Buddy Clarke

Critic at Large

Gary Waldman is a man of many talents. He has directed, produced and created many theatrical productions. Waldman has added to his accomplishments by writing and producing a brand new musical, Bungalow Bunnies. Now playing at the Wilton Playhouse, for which Waldman is the artistic director. The musical brings Gary back to his childhood in the famed Catskill mountains.

It is the summer of 1977 and Gary reminisces about his summer in a bungalow colony, which dotted the Catskills along with the plush hotels such as the Concord and Grossingers. Many of the hotels had bungalow colonies right on their grounds. People would rent them for the season, the wives and kids spending all their time their [sic], and the fathers would work in the city all week and drive up on Friday for the weekend, as well as spending their one or two-week vacation take in their bungalows. It was a way of life that most Jewish kids lived with, and it was a wonderful fun-filled escape from the hot city.

Waldman has recaptured that memory with his musical. He uses three couples, Milton Goebel and his wife Rose (Oscar Cheda and Gail Byer). Moe and Ida Sipowitz (George Contini and Debbie Campbell) and Heshy and Freida Kishenefsky (Elias Eliadis and Stacy Schwartz) to tell his stories in words and music. There is lots of comedy in the production. The music is, for the most part, derivative, but that doesn’t take away from the nostalgic feeling engendered as the show unfolds.

The set by Ian Almeida is perfect, as is the musical backing by Phil Hinton and the orchestra, cleverly hidden behind a bungalow wall. John Wade’s sound design is excellent, as are the costumes by Marianne Pittard. Good too is the lighting by the ever reliable Ginny Adams. All the performers are great, with Oscar Cheda a standout, as usual. While Bungalow Bunnies has an ethnic flavor, it’s a fun show for everyone.

Bungalow Bunnies will run through Nov 26 at the Wilton Playhouse, 1444 NE 26 St, Wilton Manors. For more information, call 954-567-3666.