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Published on 10/27/1999 All articles from this issue

1999 Follies raises $10,000 for Bus Barn Stage Company

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

When Kathryn Traficanti started to sing "I'm Yuppie Scum, I drive an SUV," the audience howled with laughter because they could relate it to Los Altos traffic. They roared at the new words Vicki Reeder composed for "The Council Gals of Yesteryear" in this year's successful Follies. Actually, they laughed at all the Follies songs that were sung by the cast of the sixth annual Los Altos Follies.

The Los Altos Community Foundation stages the musical parody each year as a benefit for the Bus Barn Stage Company.

"We had 193 people pay $50 each to attend the Follies, and we made $9,943.26 that will be turned over to the Bus Barn," Vicki Reeder, producer and director, said. "I wanted to turn over $10,000, but we are $56.74 short."

Louise Spangler, owner of Uncommon Threads, immediately wrote out a check to make the total benefit $10,000 for the Bus Barn Theater.

"People don't realize the time it takes to put on this show. The company put in 24 hours in song writing, 15 hours in pre-production activities and rehearsal time of 28 hours for 12 people, or 335 hours. In all, more than 500 hours are needed to put on the production," Reeder said. "And don't forget to include 42.7 hours of worrying to see that everything goes right."

The 99-seat Bus Barn Theater hosted the two performances. The Bank of Los Altos sponsored a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception in a parking lot tent.

The Follies has contributed more than $30,000 to the Bus Barn Theater with this year's proceeds combined with those of prior performances.

Acting as a silent butler and postman in several skits, long time volunteer, Peter Caswell, thought this was the best Follies ever based on audience laughter and production.

Other cast members were: Pat Blackie, Greg Lee, Frank Lynch, Cary Nelson, John Reed, Sally Ricci, Carol Sarno and Antonio Van Becker. Jim Thurber Jr. accompanied by John Sylvester on the saxophone served as emcee and performed on piano.