Mikki Prost Presents 'The Life and Times of Brenda Lee: Little Miss Dynamite' Gary R. Beck - Beck's Best
December 18, 2016

We have loved and followed Mikki with her tributes to Patsy Cine, her idol, and last season we were delighted with her examination through song and narrative of Connie Francis. Now, she has tackled one of the top female artists of the 1960's, Brenda Lee, a short petite girl with a huge voice, nicknamed Little Miss Dynamite. This artist has been a major undertaking by Mikki since she researches and edits the singer's history into a history, interspersed with Miss Lee's songs.

The long large stage was utilized, which is impressive. Barbara Harris had decorated the length with Holiday colors topped with swags and boughs and a 'glowing' fireplace. Mikki greeted us in an elegant dress singing appropriately "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", surprisingly Lee's biggest selling track of her illustrious career. Lee recorded this song when she was only thirteen years old. Although the song is based in rock and roll, the instrumentation fits the country music genre which she embraced more as her career developed. Mikki exploded into "Dynamite" which gave spitfire Brenda her lifelong tag. Then followed "Sweet Nothin's" which made her a solid hit in 1960. It was sung coyly and remarkably by Mikki. But it was "I'm Sorry" which made her a star and became her signature song and Mikki took that tune and squeezed the raw emotion outward, both sad and beautiful.

She sang about wanting someone to love her and share her life with "I Want to be Wanted", a plaintive version which Mikki possessed. Mikki exuded the deep and sensitive feelings of Brenda Lee in the song "You Can Depend on Me". Her voice was clear with a fine improved sound system here coupled with a classy decor after a summer of remodelling. She excelled and impressed the audience with the heart-wrenchingly sorrowful "Fool #1" by Kathryn R. Fulton: "How many other girls have been fooled by you? And I guess that I'm the biggest fool of all." "Break it to Me Gently" continued Mikki's salute to breakup and loss ballads for which Brenda became well-known. This was a show-stopper.

One of the most wonderful classic songs ever written "All Alone Am I" was tearfully sang. Legendary producer Owen Bradley took this young tender talented Brenda Lee and shaped her into a leading female singer of the 1960's and creating her most known tunes which have lasted through the decades. Mikki performed the tour de force "Losing You" and her listeners resoundingly showed appreciation for such a fine interpretation by her. She has captured the essence of Brenda's stylings and trillings. Another fantastic tune was wrought from her "As Usual", declaring her love for someone gone from her. She even included spoken word, rare in those times.

"Comin' On Strong" was a top pop tune and Mikki brought new excitement to the lyrics of foreboding heartaches. Just as the start of the show, Mikki touched the Holiday season with another popular composition popularized by Brenda "Jingle Bell Rock". The audience left feeling good about this fine singer Brenda Lee, studied by another very fine singer, Mikki Prost.

You can catch Mikki Prost as Brenda Lee at the Boutique Theatre on December 21, January 4, 11 and 18. You are invited to choose the delicious three-course dinner which is served at 5:00 pm with the show beginning at 6:00. Dinner choices are Filet Mignon or Chicken Cordon Bleu served with mashed potatoes and a vegetable medly. Vegetarians can order the Chile Relleno with rice and beans. All dinners come with a house salad, dessert and a beverage.

The newly renovated Boutique Theatre is located above Nacho Daddy at 287 Basilio Badillo in Old Town Vallarta. For tickets, stop by Nacho Daddy anytime after 11:00 am or online at Vallarta Tickets.


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