Strike up the Band has modern themes

By Dan Hilborn
Published Oct. 29, 2005


"American CEO declares war on small country," screams the headline on top of the Applause Musicals Society press release.

While the headline is just a ruse, Scott Ashton Swan, the man who is bringing musical theatre to the Shadbolt centre refuses to apologize for his blatant attempt to catch people's attention.

"It's very tongue in cheek," Swan said of the announcement that George Gershwin's Strike up The Band is coming to the Shadbolt's studio theatre from Nov. 2 to 5.

The musical satire follows the exploits of the owner and namesake of the Fletcher American Cheese Company as he convinces the U.S. army to go to war against Switzerland to overturn a 50 per cent tariff on imported cheese.

"The parallels to south of the border were just so interesting to me," Swan said. "And it proves that sometimes work from that long ago is just as relevant today as ever."

While the plot may be more absurd than satirical, the real strength in this show is its score - featuring such well-known Gershwin songs as The Man I Love, its reprise in The Girl I Love, I've Got a Crush On You and, of course, the title piece.

The Applause production will also be homecoming for two Burnaby actresses - Diana Sandberg and Tara Chen, who both sing in the chorus.

Sandberg is well-known in the city having played the role of Mrs. MacPherson in last winter's Footlight Theatre production of Anne of Green Gables and last spring's Applause production of 70 Girls 70.

Chen, who has trained as a ballet dancer, is a relative newcomer to the musical scene and recently performed in the Pipe Dream production of Sweet Charity in North Vancouver.

This will be the second musical staged by Applause at the Shadbolt since moving into Burnaby during the summer.

In September, they presented a full-cast score of Cole Porter's Jubilee on a four-day run.

And Swan, the founder and artistic director of Applause, said the Shadbolt's studio theatre is "perfect" for his unique shows - which feature up-and-coming talent working off book with only one week of rehearsals.

"The studio theatre is very intimate. We have 120 people in the audience and 30 singers right in their face," Swan said.

This production features the full 32-member cast, with only a grand piano as accompaniment.

"People just love it when they get that close to the music."

Strike Up The Band has four performances only Nov. 2 to 5, with the Thursday night show featuring a 15-minute presentation from Swan which he calls "Gershwin 101" - a short lecture on the works of George and Ira Gershwin.

Tickets are available through the Shadbolt centre box office by calling 604-205-3000.