Music and comedy featured in Senior Power Show

By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The recent Senior Power Variety Show held at the Dearborn community of Henry Ford Village was a huge hit with more than 500 people attending the performance.

The show got off to an ironic and comical start with Executive Director Larry Vidovic and his wife playing prospective community members. Her character is interested in living at Henry Ford Village while he played the reluctant spouse.

Vidovic says that when he was first approached about participating in the show he wasn’t sure about it.

“My first reaction was ‘no, I don’t have time for rehearsals!’” Vidovic says. “Then I remembered that life lived fully involves saying ‘yes’ more than we say ‘no.’ So we said ‘yes,’ and our souls have been enriched.”

The couple’s performance was well-received by the audience, and quite comical.

Community member wrote the whole show
Community member Lydia Romano wrote the entire script for the show. This is the third production Romano has been involved with at the community.

“I’ve had acting experience, and I have written and directed plays before,” she says. Her 26-page script involved more than 35 performers.

Romano came up with the idea of having the Vidovics play the disagreeing couple, with community member Lee Weidman playing the role of Retirement Counselor Kristine Anderson. In the show, Weidman has a magic wand which allows her to peek in at various community members and events at Henry Ford Village.

Also performing in the variety show were square dancers, a barbershop sextet, a violinist, and other musical performances rounded out the talent.

Accompanists Gene Fette, Lori Cutajar, and Katy Morrill provided a vibrant musical background for the show.

“There are a lot of talented people here at Henry Ford Village,” Romano says. “Everyone looks forward to the annual event.”

Bigger and better
Community member Rita Lothrop co-directed the show, along with Carol Davis.