Rock of Orcas Rocks Orcas Center!

–by Ayn Gailey —

Grace McCune and Jake Perrine lead a cast of thousands in Rock of Orcas to benefit Orcas Center

Thursday night’s premiere of “Rock of Orcas” began with over forty members of the Rock On the Rock Choir (ROTRC), led by Grace McCune, chanting Queen’s iconic eighties anthem “We will rock you.” And, rock us they did.

Show directors, Grace McCune and Jake Perrine, compare Rock of Orcas, their latest and ambitious Orcas Center fundraiser, with a focus on 80’s rock music, to their previous show Across The Universe in this manner: “…where Across the Universe sought to find truth in the Beatles’ timeless repertoire, we decided this year to go as far in the opposite direction as possible to the land of big hair, big makeup, big attitudes, big guitars and cotton-candy lyrics. With tongues firmly in cheek.”

They may have underestimated what they could achieve. One does not have to truly like —you just have to recognize it— 80s music to succumb to the tug of nostalgia and affection “Rock of Orcas” inspires. Add to that the fact that the songs are being sung enthusiastically by our talented island neighbors and you have an evening filled with theatrical humor, delight, music and dance.

Despite some highly entertaining self-mockery, one of which included newspaper editor-by-day, theatre vixen-by-night Colleen Smith-Armstrong and Cali Bagby singing a hilarious version of “I Can’t Fight This Feeling” to each other, the most powerful themes of the show shaped up to be ones that may have been unintentional.

Join the attitude and outrageousness of the Rock of Orcas at Orcas Center

On an island as small as ours, one can’t help but respond to not only the pure talent being exhibited on stage, but the notion that our citizenry is willing to don tight leather pants, crop tops, fishnets, tricked out rocker hair styles and heavy duty eyeliner—and that was just the men—to sing lyrics like “Gotta Cut Loose” and really mean it. Although nobody can deny we have some serious professional female talent after hearing the likes of Stormy Hildreth and Adia Dolan sing “We Belong” or Grace McCune belt out “Dream On;” for me, the male performers in this show were where a lot of the shock and awe came in.

One of the most entertaining numbers found Ed Lago (day job: engineer), Sky Weaver (day job: boat captain), and Kelly Toombs (day job: boat repair) accompanying director Jake Perrine to a raucous “Stoke Some Shout On Me” that brought down the house, complete with actresses dressed as church protestors warning audience members that rock is the music of the devil. By the end of the number those same churchgoing ladies were practically throwing their bras on stage at the men and we were duly impressed by their performance. We can only hope that these four men do not throw out their spandex tights so that after this show, they can form a cover band—along with the great guitarists and bassists, including Gene Nery, in the Rock of Orcas band—and continue to please crowds at our local bars.

In true Orcas fashion kids were an integral part, too. Little kids, pre-teens and teens strutted their stuff vocally and in dance routines conducted by Grace McCune and choreographed by Jake Perrine and Tiffany Loney. Enzo Thixton gave an awe-inspiring performance on the silks while Gabi Carver, Maggie Thomas, Adia Dolan and the ROTRC sang their rendition of “Purple Rain” by Prince.

In the end, the music was invigorating and the audience came away impressed. We also come away a little bit prouder of this special place we’ve all chosen to live on. The show is a reminder that on Orcas you can be who you want to be and try things you might not dare try elsewhere. We have Grace McCune, Jake Perrine and Orcas Center to thank for that. This show is one way they remind us literally and figuratively: “Don’t Stop Believin.”

“Rock Of Orcas” Performance Sponsors are: Theron Soderland & Ginny Hawker, Connie & Jack Bloxom, and Alison Weir & John Bric. Special thanks to the 2016-2017 Orcas Center Business Sponsors.

Tickets for “Rock of Orcas” are $20 for adults, $15 for students. Some nights are SOLD OUT. All tickets may be purchased on the Orcas Center website OrcasCenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-3 p.m. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017 season visit OrcasCenter.org.