By Rick Boettger

How do they do it every year? A packed house, great singing, comedy from Tony Konrath, surprising stage silliness, and true competition for not only the title of Aqua Idol, but a great deal of swag that the irrepressible Lynda Frechette shakes out of every generous business in town.

Darn, I’m tempted to go overboard and say the Idol finale is the third flashiest Key West event after the Fantasy Fest parade and New Years, but maybe that just means I don’t get out much. And while I find the venue and competition more exciting than any of the professionally staged $80/ticket shows at the Tennessee Williams, its naïve to say the songs could be better than the national stars’.

But fresh out of the show, that’s how it feels! Aqua is packed—I don’t want to give the attendance because I don’t want to get them in trouble with the Fire Department. It’s a raucous and generous crowd—yes, it’s FREE to get in, but the crowd dumps dollars in the bucket to vote for their favorites. These musical competitions have not gotten stale. While the original American Idol shut down after 15 years, The Voice has taken over as the most popular reality show on TV. And the performers have gotten more and more professional.

I mildly resented the great local pro Bruce Moore’s entering and of course winning two years ago, but he was just ahead of the curve. And he didn’t just jump in for the win and run off—he has continued to show up and support the benefit every year as a guest performer and a judge. This year he came down two weeks after his last chemo to both judge and, thank God, sing a song for us with his chemo-proof voice.

Also singing as the votes were being tallied–$10k for the night, $32k in all for the Waterfront Playhouse—was Terry White. Just a few years ago, her critically acclaimed July 2013 performance earned her a national award for “Best One-Show Special Event.” She’s retired from doing big shows and graces our small stages for fun. Ah, Key West again luring the best.

As for the competition, two young gals with gorgeous looks got edged out by a couple of worn-out old farts with gorgeous baritones. (I say this as a worn-out old fart with a decent baritone.) Bill Melchior got promoted from Admiral to Aqua Idol on this night, because his fans came from as far as New York to vote for him.

A major part of the fun is Tony Konrath’s acerbic Simon Cowell role, being the only judge to say anything snarky. It’s hard for him, as he really is a nice guy. But it’s called acting, he’s a pro, and surviving his ribbing is part of the frisson. On the last day, he sings, and contestants have their turn to rag on him. His “Dream a Little Dream” gave one critic “nightmares” and for another “saved me money on Prozac to put me to sleep tonight.”

More typical Key West edgy humor featured the hot young buck playing the Indian in the YMCA song wearing neither chaps nor underwear. As I said, if you haven’t seen this show, you don’t know what you’re missing. Chief promoter Lynda Frechette and emcee Laurie Thibaud say the credit for Idol’s success goes to the singers and audience. But darn, I’d give half an octave to have been Bill, Bob Wood, Destiny, or Sarah Dorrance, who were having even more fun than the audience. So I’m thanking Tony, Lynda, and Laurie. Again next year!