By Neena Strichart
Publisher
Most of our theatre or entertainment reviews come early in the productions’ runs. Some music or play information comes to us before the events begin— especially those that take place for one night only. This is neither.
Last Friday, my friend Becky and I had the opportunity to see the Grammy-nominated group Three Dog Night (TDN) at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Not our first time seeing the group at that venue, we expected a repeat performance— a crowd of Baby Boomers geared up for a nostalgic musical ride who were rewarded with songs that rocked the top 40 charts back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Our predictions were met and exceeded. From the opening number, “The Family of Man,” to the final notes of “Joy to the World,” the audience (including me and Becky) were blown away with new arrangements of the songs we so loved during our teenage years.
I still find it comical when I think of the announcer reminding the audience to silence any cell phones before the performance began. Who was he kidding? We couldn’t have heard a tank coming through the walls— the acoustics were perfect, the music was loud and the audience was louder. The applause and whistles of the appreciative crowd were certainly reminiscent of the band’s performances thirty to forty years ago— this time without the smell of illegal herbs. The soulful and sultry “I’ve Never Been to Spain” and ragtime-inspired “An Old Fashioned Love Song” were delivered in a more powerful way than I remember from the group’s heyday. I don’t know whether that phenomenon was due to new musical technology, an increase in the group’s talent or a combination of the two. Regardless, it was a night to remember for all of us.
If I had to choose my favorite part of the evening, it would have to be the guys’ new rap version of “Mama Told Me Not to Come” mixed with the traditional. The audience ate it up, and Becky said she preferred that version to the original. The nearly hour-and-a-half performance was stellar— especially when you figure the members of Three Dog Night have been hitting the stage for over forty years. They look great, sound great and put on one heck of a show. They are true entertainers.
For a schedule of Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts’ upcoming performances, see www.cerritoscenter.com or call (562) 467-8818.
The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts is located directly off the 91 Freeway, 30 minutes southeast of downtown Los Angeles, 20 minutes east of downtown Long Beach, and 15 minutes west of Anaheim. Plenty of free parking is available off Park Plaza Drive.
