BY DON NAPIER
Crossville Life Magazine
I met Dennis Donald about several years ago. At the time, I just didn’t know what to think of him. He is a normal looking guy. Just to see him on the street or to sit and talk to him, you’d never know that he is an extremely talented artist.
You cannot possibly imagine the shock my system had that first time I attended one of his shows. It was at the Palace Theatre, and he was hosting a show that paid tribute to The Rat Pack. Dennis Donald is a little like Gomer Pyle; or Crazy Guggenham, on the Jackie Gleason Show. He is an unassuming guy until he opens his mouth to sing!
In the mid-1960’s, Rat Pack was the name used by the press and general public to refer to a variation of performers including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford.
Dennis and some friends did a great job that night at the Palace with different amateurs in place to cover songs made famous by the Rat Packers. I must brag on my friend Keith Walther who can be Tom Jones or Elvis Presley whenever the need arises.
Now on with the show
It took that introduction to make you understand that Dennis Donald can produce a show. And he now has his own address, a regular place to hang his hat –in a big space at Crossville Outlet Mall where he performs dinner theatre, along with some very talented performers.
Curtain Call Dinner Theatre is what he calls it. His current show takes you back to the fabulous fifties. Dennis invites his guests to “revisit those years with some of the area’s best entertainers, while you dance to the music.” His set includes a malt shop, and the show at the time I attended was “Malt Shop Music & Memories.”
On the night I attended, the audience was greeted with some very talented performers, including a freshman at Stone Memorial High School, Cheyene Graff, who performed during the “dinner” portion of the dinner theatre. She is an amazing talent and what a stage presence she possessed! This was my first time to hear her sing, but she has already had recognition, winning the Teen Idol contest at the Cumberland County Fair last summer.
Live guitar music by the masterful Tony Zerrola was great during dinner and breaks. He came out into the audience, going table to table playing requests. He was fabulous!
As far as I am concerned, star of the Malt Shop Memories is none other than Ashley Krohn, who many know from her previous appearances ,including shows at the Palace. Her Connie Frances-like version of “Everybody is Somebody’s Fool,” gave me goosebumps. She had a dozen great songs, but my favorites were “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “Our Day Will Come.”
Others who were in the show and had great moments were Lilly Lung and Viviana Pabi. Viviana’s “Mama Said” and “My Guy” were very, very good. Lilly also had a great night, but I especially loved her “Downtown” and “Wishin’ and A-Hopin”
Showtimes
Doors open between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m., dinner starts at 5:45 p.m., show starts at 6:45 p.m.. You’ll be out before 9 p.m. Shows are held Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets ($28) can be purchased at the Curtain Call Theatre in the Crossville Outlet Mall, entrance A, Suite 129 or reserved by calling 931-337-7469.
Summary
Is this the world’s best dinner theatre? No it is not, but it is “very” entertaining. The plot is kind of weak, but it was fun and you did find yourself doing a lot of smiling and laughing.
Is the food going to wow you? No, but it will surely fill you up, and mine was very tender, hot and tasty. Going along with the Malt Shop theme, the Blue Plate Special we had was hot roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans with choice of a root beer float, a shake or a sundae and all the coffee, tea and lemonade you can drink. Also they have free, freshly popped popcorn during the show, all served by friendly, smiling faces.
What was it’s weak points? Having Dennis play the lead role of a teenage boy was a bit of a stretch. It came over as “hokey” when he sang to his teenage girl friend and his sister, both played by a real teenagers. The only thing keeping this from being a bonafide hit, would be a young man in the lead role.
But this is one man’s dream and I applaud it. I urge you to support Dennis and his Curtain Call venue. Dennis had some really good moments including his Elvis song, even if his Elvis wig was hilarious. There is something very exciting about seeing all these talented people, and knowing they came right out of our community.
