HollyDay Follies revue spotlights seniors

Nearly 70 entertainers dished out 22 holiday-themed acts in this year’s HollyDay Follies revue show.

Singers, dancers, cheerleaders, musicians and sketch performers – all in their late 50s or older, and one 91-year-old – presented their talents to about 300 people Dec. 4 in Mount Pleasant High School’s auditorium.

The HollyDay Follies, in its fourth year, is one of several programs managed by the Cabarrus County Senior Centers and the Cabarrus County Active Living and Parks department. The goal is to keep the senior crowd moving by offering dance nights, access to fitness centers and other social activities.

Proceeds from the holiday show help programs such as the Senior Games, which began locally in 1985 as part of a statewide health and wellness initiative for adults 55 and older. Each spring, hundreds compete in more than 20 individual and team events as well as heritage, literary, performing and visual arts categories.

A holiday vision

Harry Smith played the role of a gentleman out for a day in the park. Dressed in a black suit and hat with a red scarf, he slowly made his way on stage to a seat near a decorated Christmas tree.

Meanwhile, four ladies took notice of the handsome man and began to vie for his attention. First, an attractive, festive-looking jogger bounced by, as did the big, yellow “HO HO HO” emblazoned on her tight green running shorts.

Then a lady in an elegant red dress strutted her stuff but failed to capture even the slightest stare. He didn’t react to anything they tried. Frustrated, the ladies gathered to brainstorm.

The man eventually got up and walked off stage using a long white cane, a tool commonly used by the vision-impaired.

Still dancing at 91

Molly and Ray Van Havere performed a dance routine to the foxtrot tune “A Christmas Kiss.” Ray, 91, and Molly, 85, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary two days later, Dec. 6. They were one of three couples in the act.

Ray liked the act called “Mr. Grinch” best. He said the Grinch, played by Glenn Shaver, and Pat Abbott – who volunteers with virtually every aspect of the show, from rehearsals and choreography to making costumes – gave an exhilarating dance performance to the tune “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” from the TV version of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

“They dance to five different rhythms,” said Ray. “They do the Argentine tango. They do the jive, the foxtrot, and they do these lifts in each rhythm. The lifts are what really make the whole dance.”

Molly said dancing may be what keeps the couple young.

“We not only ballroom-dance, but we square-dance and round-dance and do Western style, too,” she said. “It’s just really nice being with the other couples, and it’s been nice working with everybody. We’re like a family.”

Amazing at any age

Malli Plowman, 71, a Cabarrus Senior Center participant for about 15 years, opened the show singing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” with emcee David Baxter.

She then did a quick wardrobe change to perform a Christmas Cheer with the Cabarrus County Sparks, a group of cheerleaders in their 70s. Later, she played a hula instructor in a skit set to the holiday favorite “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

“Audiences are generally amazed that people this age can do such great things,” Plowman said. “And we are having a blast. We absolutely don’t think about age. We just enjoy what we do.

“A lot of people are doing things they didn’t have the nerve to do in high school. Your second childhood is so much more fun.”

Baxter, host of “Cabarrus This Week” on Time Warner Channel 22, said the show was inspirational, entertaining and could easily change someone’s perception of a senior adult.

“The acts are great … and I think these performers are exemplary of the definition of ‘active living,’ ” he said. “You’ve got your dance numbers, some funny skits, and everything is holiday-themed, so it’s just a lot of fun.”