Sun City Performs December Delights

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Sun City Sounds presented a program entitled December Delights on Saturday, Dec. 16 in the Mesquite Community Theater on Saturday afternoon to an almost full house. The holiday variety show-style presentation featured the music of the holidays and was all performed by talented and entertaining residents of Sun City Mesquite.

The show was under the direction of Rita Hermie, who cleverly presented the holiday music in a variety of new ways.

The choral group is two dozen strong, both men and women. They opened the show with tunes “Go Tell it on the Mountain” and “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah.” The men did “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

John Norwig and Marcia Swider performed a well-received exhibition Rumba dance to Mas Alia. There was a beautiful flute duet of “Silver Bells.”

The Sunny Strummers gave chuckles to the audience with their renditions of a street group playing Christmas songs for tips. Songs like “I want a Ukulele for Christmas” and “Mele Kalikimaka” received a rousing applause.
“Zat you, Santa Clause” was another humorous entertainment with a notable trumpet solo by Mark Schafer.

A small group from the Mesquite Toes and from the Life Long Dancers, all living in Sun City, danced together with a wonderful line jig to “Little Saint Nick.” The Jazz Group danced to “Jingle Bell Rock,” which the audience loved.

DJ Van Dyke and her sister Debbie Campbell got into the act and sang a duet of “Winter Wonderland,” stirring a loud applause.

Causing quite a reaction were the Sun City Boomwhackers. This ensemble played holiday tunes in coordination using colorful tubes of plastic.
“They are a legitimate percussion instrument,” said Hermie. “We have used them sparingly over the past five years.”

The Sun City Sounds closed the show with more songs from the choir, tickling our funny bones with “No Time to Diet” and moving us with the “Mary, Did You Know?” – reminding us of the reason for the season.

The audience walked out a happy group. “I thought it was wonderful,” Gretchen Thornton said.
Bob Petersen thought it was “fantastic.” He and wife Goldine do not live in Sun City, but said they would come to see another concert by the Sun City Sounds.

“I am pleased with the way the show went,” Hermie said. “I love working with this group. They are all so kind and thoughtful to one another.”