Review: 'Yule' a Rockin' Centre Stage Show

By: Paul Hyde

From the first joyously thundering moments of Centre Stage’s “Rock ’n’ Roll Yule,” you realize this is not going to be an evening of humdrum caroling.  Quite the contrary. “Yule” is a revue of Christmas favorites and rarities presented in ribcage-rattling style by a talented cast of eight local singers, backed by a hard-charging rock band.

Directed by John Fagan with the sort of exuberant energy he often brings to comedies for the Upstate Shakespeare Festival, the show boasts oomph, panache, sexiness and soaring voices.  “Yule” opens with George Thorogood’s pounding, sax-fired “Rock and Roll Christmas” and rarely pauses to catch its breath for the next two hours — well, except for intermission.

The show turns up both the volume and the temperature on the typical Christmas revue.  Kim Granner’s set is a white winter wonderland in miniature, but the women singers and two dancers in the young cast sashay out in rocker-girl sequins and black tights.  Music director Joe Wehunt’s buoyant solo and ensemble arrangements center on uptempo rock but also include a few ballads, R&B and gospel.  

Though the entire ensemble is first-rate, let’s admit that Delvin Choice’s ringing “O, Holy Night” is probably going to be one of the most soul-stirring performances of a song you’ll hear in Greenville this season.  Choice has a voice that takes him anywhere he needs to go. He and Rashonda Greggs have a sweet Ashford & Simpson moment in a slinky “This Christmas.”  Choice later engages in some lively beatboxing for a funky “Put a Little Love In Your Heart” and does a spirited impersonation of the vocal style and fleet footwork of James Brown in “Soulful Christmas.”

Nicole Wellmon nicely channels Whitney Houston with her silky sound and nimble melismas in “Do You Hear What I Hear?”

Janice Morrison Wilkins, in warm alto voice, does a sassy turn in “Cool Yule” and the Louis Armstrong tune “’Zat You Santa Claus?”

Greggs offers a stylish and heartfelt “This Christmas Song.”

The mellow-voiced Larry Zarella provides an appealing respite from the breezy proceedings with an acoustic guitar-accompanied sing-along.

Kelley Norwine, Bethanne Pistolis and Louie Sagedy round out the fine cast.

Kimberlee Ferreira’s choreography generally is terrific — kinetic, inventive and free-spirited — although it seems, to me, a bit too busy on a ballad like “There Is a Star That Shines Tonight.”

The show’s two dancers, Erin Roper and Lara Scott, are irrepressible.

The five-member band, led by Wehunt, is excellent. Wehunt was right to spotlight the great saxophonist Doug Norwine, who has several tasty solos.

Centre Stage’s high-octane “Rock ’n’ Roll Yule” continues through Dec. 17. For tickets, call 864-233-6733.