Show stoppers

By Ben Conant - Mar 1, 2011 | 0 comments

Henry Wing performs “The Nightmare Song” as Maxie von Mopp.

Harriet Caton and Warren Geissinger play Dagwood and Blondie in the sketch "The Secret Notebook."

Brad Randall plays Captain Schnapps von Trapp as he recites a poem of “Salty Limericks.”

Gloria Neary and Vera Dunkley play Frau Apple and Frau Strudel in a short piece about friendship.

Mary Lou Fuller and Kay Amsden were a barrel of laughs playing Georgie and Gracie in “The Little Rascals” skit. “Did you hear that doctors have finally developed liquid Viagra?” Georgie asked. “Now you can really pour yourself a stiff one!”

Mary Lou Fuller and Kay Amsden were a barrel of laughs playing Georgie and Gracie in “The Little Rascals” skit. “Did you hear that doctors have finally developed liquid Viagra?” Georgie asked. “Now you can really pour yourself a stiff one!”

Barbara Porter, Ellen Little and Judith Lonergan perform a classic song-and-dance routine of “My Baby Don’t Love Me No More,” by the De John Sisters. Look at those moves!

Patricia Underhill and Lois Sundeer recite the “New Senior Alphabet” while Jane Bredeson looks on.

Jane Bredeson and Casper Kranenburg play Gretel and Hansel in a little ditty entitled "Time to Start Livin."

Havenwood-Heritage Heights is generally known as a continuing care retirement community. However, once a year the Triple H transforms into a Vaudeville stage hosting some of Concord's hippest and most talented seniors in a variety show to beat the band. This year's performance, winkingly titled “We're Five Years Old,” was the fifth installment of the annual event, and it was nothing short of uproariously funny.

“We've been working on it since about May of last year,” said producer and director Bill Twibill, who, along with his partner Casper Kranenburg of Insider Ball & Chain fame, wrote the show.

And all that effort showed. The Pretty Good Talent Company, made up of residents of the retirement community, delighted the audience with skits, bits, cut-ups, and songs that had the crowd in non-medical stitches. This year's theme was “At the Von Trapp Family Lodge,” with all the characters friends or relatives of the Sound of Music clan.

One part Crosby and Kaye, one part Burns and Allen, and all parts awesome, the seniors put on quite a talent show.

“This was the best one yet,” said Havenwood-Heritage Heights resident Barbara Gray, who has attended all five of the Pretty Good Talent Company's yearly performances. “They're a good bunch, and they work hard. You can see how much fun they have doing it.”