Simone Harshaw
Contributing Writer
On October 5, The Official Blues Brothers Revue lit up Pfeiffer Hall’s stage with an entertaining performance that took the audience back in time to John Landis’ 1980 film.
Brothers Jake and Elwood Blues (performed by Wayne Catania and Kleron Lafferty) stepped off the movie screen and right onto the stage—quite literally. As the lights began to dim and the band members took their places, the reel of a projector portrayed a comedic clip of the brothers getting ready for the show.
The scene begins with the brothers waking up late and running into a couple of hilarious detours including the Blues Mobile breaking down and a malfunctioning elevator. The scene ends with the brothers running up a flight of stairs trying to get the show on time as Catania and Lafferty appear on stage to begin the first set.
The show included classic Blues Brothers dance moves, as well as tributes to musicians such as Cab Calloway, who played a mentor to the Blues Brothers in the 1980 film, and to the original Blues Brothers, Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi.
Catania and Lafferty also invited the audience to participate in their own musical number, getting everyone off their feet and dancing to the Isley Brothers’ song “Shout”.
The night ended with the iconic hit, “Soul Man”, which made the experience complete.
“I really enjoyed it, it was definitely what I expected.” Sean Lynch, junior, commented after the show.
Between the vocals and the outstanding use of a harmonica, Catania and Lafferty do not disappoint. These two former Las Vegas performers were chosen to represent the Blues Brothers for a reason.
With the accompaniment of a great band behind them, the characters of Jake and Elwood Blues were brought to life on stage with the exact personality and musical abilities of the original actors.
In case you missed this live-action performance, the Blues Brothers Revue will be back in the Chicagoland area this February. More information can be found on their website, bluesbrothersofficialsite.com.
