Seniors inspire in fundraising musical

By Linda Tarr | For The Olympian • Published September 05, 2007

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If a "Bandstand Boogie" sounds fun and you'd like to "Jump With My Baby" there's a patriotic musical performance you've got to see.

Wrinkles of Washington presents "Home at Last … A Tank Town Tale" Friday to Sunday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. The production benefits Senior Services for South Sound.

The tone of the show is patriotic, humorous and non-political - with fantastic music and dancing framing the works, said Georgia Williams, a dancer in the show and co-director of the group's spring music review performances.

In this snapshot of life, a war has recently ended and troops and USO members are returning to the town of Wrinkleton, Wash., where a munitions plant has wound down in its function of providing armaments for the conflict.

"Everyone has a different idea of what they want to convert it into," she said, and the race is on as folks scramble to get there first and put their ideas into practice, from creating a tavern to a spa to a church. Adding a twist, there's a mystery man who has been hiding out in the building.

"It's a comedy, number one, and people like that. It's filled with some of the old songs people love," said director Michele Penberthy, 60.

The tap dancers, the costumes and the music are all worth seeing too, she said.

Those who go to see the two-act show will find out whether a minor war will break out at home over the conflicting ideas, or whether the townspeople will work things out and realize their dreams.

The question of the mystery man also will be answered.

Senior Services for South Sound Director Eileen McKenzieSullivan said this is the 13th year Wrinkles of Washington has put the show on to raise money for the organization. WOW donates between $10,000 and $12,000 annually and has raised more than $190,000 in the time it's been putting on the fall production.

"That's no small peanuts," Williams said.

McKenzieSullivan said many families have come to enjoy the fall production the past decade.

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