Airman 1st Class Russell Bratcher sings with members of the Mildenhall Theater Company in a rehearsal for the upcoming "One: The Show." (Ben Murray / S&S)
As a singer and performer, Airman 1st Class Russell Bratcher from the 100th Maintenance Squadron at RAF Mildenhall is a man with serious range — not even Barbra Streisand has played next to Scooby Doo as the sidekick Shaggy. Zoinks!
Singing everything from country to pop to gospel, the 22-year-old airman from Georgetown, S.C., also has worked as a performer for the musical revue “High Steppin’ Country,” at Myrtle Beach, S.C., and this spring made the first cut in a tryout to sing with the Air Force’s Tops in Blue. Now the leader of the Mildenhall Theater Company, Bratcher is directing a musical revue of his own with 13 performers called “One: The Show” which will run Nov. 3-5 at the Bob Hope Community Center. Tickets are $7 and doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Sum up this play for me using the same amount of words in the title.
Laughs, singin’ and dancin’.
That was three. Are there three words in the title?
One: The Show.
Ah. Is U2 suing you?
I’m sorry?
U2. …
U2? No.
They had that big song … are you covering that song?
No.
Well, explain the title.
It’s just … if you only see “one” show this year. …
Ah. … So, what are you going to name the sequel?
Um, the sequel will be “One: The Show.” We’re going to actually have “One: The Show: The Christmas Special” next year.
Not “Two?”
Nope.
Ok, you’ve got country, gospel, patriotic, Broadway, jazz. … What have you got against heavy metal?
Nothing … you’ve kind of got to base [the show] off who you’ve got in your cast. You can’t throw them up there doing a Kiss song if they’re doing Celine Dion their whole life.
What are you going to be singing?
I’m going to be singing … a little bit of everything: “Rock the Boat” from Chris Cagle, “Drove All Night,” Celine Dion, jazz, Broadway, “Come What May” from “Moulin Rouge,” “Broken Road” from Rascal Flatts. …
Are you going to dress like Celine?
No. This is [the] original composers’ versions. It was originally written by Roy Orbison.
Do you think she sold out when she went to Vegas?
Probably. [coughs]
Well, that’s apropos — do you have a homemade remedy for when you go hoarse?
Nah, just lots of water.
Not, like, honey and yogurt or something?
No, it doesn’t work.
Huh. … Is [the show] better than “Cats”?
Yes, because I fell asleep watching “Cats,” and I love watching musicals.
