The Bikinis

“The Bikinis,” created and written by Ray Roderick and James Hindman is part of the ‘new American musical’ movement giving the audience a nostalgic vision of the great music baby boomers grew up with.  This type of musical is not necessarily going to be a literary masterpiece, just a decent story line to string together a genre of unforgettable musical numbers with maybe a few new songs thrown in.  This can be a great night of entertainment and fun as the old folk’s rock out in the aisles.  The story is simple enough and the lines are easy to memorize—just concentrate on the songs and everyone will have a good time.

In theory that is a great approach, and apparently that is the tack Billie Thrash, Director of “The Bikinis” takes at the latest Jewel Box Theatre Production.  Musical Director, Tim Goff does a nice job, but the actors have not yet learned their lines well enough to perform in a public setting.  Unfortunately a nervous actress struggling for words and body placement can be thrown into her next song with uncertainty.  Result?  Sour notes.  An easy script to learn must still be learned and rehearsed, yet nearly every line in the show is flubbed or lost as the band plays over the dialogue.

The staging is competent, yet the band sitting dead center creates a problem with sight lines and distraction.  This can be overcome by the audience if the band being center has a constructive purpose.  It does not.

Casting is awkward.  Using the same actresses cast in different roles would have been more comfortable visually for the audience and might have made a better sound.  Jackie Smola as Annie does a more than competent job in her role and interpretation.  Paula Parkhurst and Elin Bhaird also perform adequately.  Deb Goff-Roberts’ voice does not seem to carry well into the audience.  Cheryl Varnell as Betty, the group’s manager provides a nice interlude now and again.  The band known as ‘The Big Kahuna’s’ accompany the singers quite well.  Musical Director Goff is on keyboard with David Hester on drums, Jason Hunt on guitar and Tim Good on bass provides a nice although sometimes too loud accompaniment. 

Once the cast is a little more comfortable with their dialogue, this show should be cute to watch.  However, audience members should be dancing in the aisles.

“The Bikinis” can be seen at the Jewel Box Theatre through September 18, 2011.  The Jewel Box is located at 3700 North Walker Avenue in the First Christian Church.  Ticket information is available at 405.521.1786 Tuesday through Friday afternoons or online information at www.Jewelboxtheatre.org.

“The Bikinis,” created and written by Ray Roderick and James Hindman is part of the ‘new American musical’ movement giving the audience a nostalgic vision of the great music baby boomers grew up with.  This type of musical is not necessarily going to be a literary masterpiece, just a decent story line to string together a genre of unforgettable musical numbers with maybe a few new songs thrown in.  This can be a great night of entertainment and fun as the old folk’s rock out in the aisles.  The story is simple enough and the lines are easy to memorize—just concentrate on the songs and everyone will have a good time.

In theory that is a great approach, and apparently that is the tack Billie Thrash, Director of “The Bikinis” takes at the latest Jewel Box Theatre Production.  Musical Director, Tim Goff does a nice job, but the actors have not yet learned their lines well enough to perform in a public setting.  Unfortunately a nervous actress struggling for words and body placement can be thrown into her next song with uncertainty.  Result?  Sour notes.  An easy script to learn must still be learned and rehearsed, yet nearly every line in the show is flubbed or lost as the band plays over the dialogue.

The staging is competent, yet the band sitting dead center creates a problem with sight lines and distraction.  This can be overcome by the audience if the band being center has a constructive purpose.  It does not.

Casting is awkward.  Using the same actresses cast in different roles would have been more comfortable visually for the audience and might have made a better sound.  Jackie Smola as Annie does a more than competent job in her role and interpretation.  Paula Parkhurst and Elin Bhaird also perform adequately.  Deb Goff-Roberts’ voice does not seem to carry well into the audience.  Cheryl Varnell as Betty, the group’s manager provides a nice interlude now and again.  The band known as ‘The Big Kahuna’s’ accompany the singers quite well.  Musical Director Goff is on keyboard with David Hester on drums, Jason Hunt on guitar and Tim Good on bass provides a nice although sometimes too loud accompaniment.