Rock and rolls comes alive…Wow!

What a performance. Fountain Hills Theater does it again. “Buddy,” the Buddy Holly Story, opened Friday as the audience was transported to 1956. The entire cast, particularly the band, impressed with stellar performances.

Jack Lambert was amazing as he brought Buddy to life. Abandoning his country roots to pursue rock and roll, Buddy, along with his friends, The Crickets, find a recording home with producer Norman Petty, played by Peter J. Hill.

Through hit after hit the audience follows along as they head to New York and the Apollo Theater. A rocky relationship with his band causes him to go out on his own, eventually ending up at the famous Clear Lake Concert with the Big Bopper, played impressively by Bill Bennet, and Ritchie Valens, portrayed by Sky Donovan, whose performance drove the girls crazy.

Sadly, Buddy’s plane crashed that night and three great talents were lost. But not forever. They come alive again on our local stage. The audience was abuzz with compliments.

One theater goer told me he had seen “Buddy” on Broadway and this production was even better. High praise…well deserved. Don’t miss this outstanding production.