If you attended Palpitations 2009, Auburn Memorial Hospital's two night fundraiser held at East Middle School this weekend, it would have been hard not to laugh at the shenanigans on stage. From the opening scene with John “who says finance guys are stuffy” Baran (AMH's chief financial officer) it became clear that the show's success mirrors, in large part, the work by those on stage and behind it who have put AMH on solid ground.

Like Palpitations 2009, AMH's re-birth has been a class act #- that has included everyone from administrators, doctors, nurses and a whole host of back-room people, who you may or may not see in the hallways or offices. Just as important, as with both performances this weekend, is the audience, whether packed in at the school's auditorium or who avail themselves of the health care facility - they are the bottom line as to whether the show goes on.

The premise for this year's show was one of self discovery. It was a takeoff on the popular reality show “American Idol,” with three Hollywood types seeking talent at AMH. You won't be surprised, as the audience wasn't, that they found it #- in a roundabout route in two acts - the possible high point being Dr. Phillip Gioia's self deprecating performance as Sonny in a rendition of “I Got You Babe” with Kathy Hartnett, who in long flowing Cher wig, looked about twice the size of her duet partner dressed as if he was teleported from 1972.

A roundabout journey is, in a way, what AMH has gone through. Almost two years ago it was in a state of decline, where the public seemed to see it as a health care provider of last resort. It then had a leadership shakeup, made personnel cuts, narrowly missed getting closed by the state's Berger Commission, filed for bankruptcy and saw continued losses on the bottom line. Since then, it has come out of bankruptcy, raised enough money for an $8.8 million HEAL 2 renovation, reversed a Berger Commission requirement to close the maternity ward, hired a new CEO/president, turned a profit and brought in new physician specialties. If that isn't a made for Hollywood story, what is?

While the actors and actresses on stage have had their final curtain call for Palpitations 2009, Auburn Memorial Hospital has not. Its revival over the last two years is a credit to all those on stage and behind it. Only time will tell how successful the next act will be, moving from finishing the HEAL 2 project and coming out of bankruptcy to continuing to build faith with its audience.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com