Celebrating its 20th anniversary Thursday, the Spray Masters Water Ski Show Team found a cure for the summertime blues along the shores of Big Lake in Springfield Township. The group, which has a membership of more than 60 and more than 30 skiers of all ages, performed ‘A Boatload of Blues? for an audience assembled in the late evening.
‘Boatload? is mirrored after the ‘Blues Brothers? film starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as Elwood and Jake Blues. Spray Masters acted out several scenes from the 1980 film by water and land for the audience. The skiers also performed other ski routines intertwined through the show.
The group travels to other area lakes throughout the summer to perform its routines, which have also included such themes as ‘The Wizard of Oz,? ‘Fantasy Island,? and country/western.
The event was co-sponsored by the parks and recreation departments of Springfield, Independence and Waterford townships.
Also competing for the Spray Masters? attention were afternoon storms going around the area. The weather held off and the group performed under mostly sunny conditions.
‘Boatload? was only the group’s second performance this season. They began in the late winter with indoor practices at Andersonville Elementary and eased into the lake in May.
‘We’re doing really well, it’s the beginning of the season and we have a lot of new skiers,? said 11-year member Marian Lawson.
Lawson’s 16-year-old son Logan is a skier in the group which has kept the family involved with the Spray Masters for more than a decade.
‘The best thing is that we can do this as a family,? Lawson said. ‘There’s always a place for parents to participate. It’s a unique sport.?
They brought Tom Malvich of Charleston, S.C., to the shores of Big Lake Thursday to see his niece and nephew Rachel and Scott Malvich perform with the group.
‘It’s great, they’re all really talented. I’ve always been a ‘Blues Brothers? fan,? he said.
‘It’s terrific, the costumes are great and there’s good choreography.
For more information about the group, visit www.smwst.com or call 248-975-8771. The Spray Masters return to Big Lake Aug. 14 and 16 for the Team Sponsors? Show and the Davisburg Rotary Show.
Steve Whitton of Clarkston attended the show to see fiance Brenda Shea ski with the group. Having been to many of the Spray Masters? shows, he appreciates the group synchronization.
?(They have) a lot of the same people and they’ve all been doing it for a long time,? Whitton said.