`BEEHIVE' BUZZES WITH LIVELY '60S SPIRIT.Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic Another opening, and yet another company promising -- or at least hoping -- to bring quality programing to the El Portal El Portal may refer to different places in the United States:
The question was answered at the opening weekend of ``Beehive Beehive (star cluster): see Praesepe. beehive heraldic and verbal symbol. [Western Folklore: Jobes, 193] See : Industriousness :'' VMT's got six kickin' singers -- one a former ``American Idol'' contestant -- prancing their way through a catalog of 1960s girl-group songs that walks a very fine line between tribute and impersonation Impersonation Patroclus wore the armor of Achilles against the Trojans to encourage the disheartened Greeks. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad] Prisoner of Zenda, The . Small wonder this fond and fizzy fizz intr.v. fizzed, fizz·ing, fizz·es To make a hissing or bubbling sound; effervesce. n. 1. A hissing or bubbling sound. 2. Effervescence. 3. An effervescent beverage. revue packed 'em in in Vegas. That these performers can walk the walk (or jive the jive) makes the lightness of the material more palatable. These are recognizable, can't-miss numbers that creator Larry Gallagher has slapped together with minimal creativity. High art, ``Beehive'' decidedly is not. Still, Stacy Francis, Kathleen Hennessey, Tricia Kelly, LaToya London
La Toya Renee London (born on December 29, 1978) is an American R&B and soul singer and actress who was the fourth-place finalist on the third season of the reality/talent-search , Sylvia MacCalla and Lesli Margherita perform it with gusto. Director Nick DeGruccio largely abandons the pixie-ish flourishes he often brings to musicals with potential camp factor, and Jim Vukovich's band rocks Lankershim in ways previous El Portal tenants haven't. They're so cool! Our six ladies, sporting some serious 'dos and displaying the cheesiest of the era's fashion (costumes by Thomas G. Marquez) shimmy and bounce their way through tunes slight (``My Boyfriend's Back,'' ``Wishin' and Hopin''') and weightier (``The Beat Goes On''). ``Beehive's'' technical team helpfully -- and perhaps nostalgically -- projects album covers, so we can remind ourselves who memorably sang these songs if not who wrote them. When the play wants to go into socio-historical reflection, JFK, Martin Luther King and Woodstock projections pop in. Once the wigs start switching, and ``Beehive'' goes into medley mode, identification and recognition is not a problem. A very hard-working Francis burns For the footballer, see . Francis Burns (1809 – 1863) was an American Methodist minster who served as a missionary in Liberia. He was the first Missionary Bishop, and the first African American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was elected in 1858. through a trio of Tina Turner  The of this article or section may be compromised by "weasel words".You can help Wikipedia by removing weasel words. songs, leaving Ike-ette Margherita gasping for breath. MacCalla's Aretha commands plenty of ``R-E-S-P-E-C-T,'' so much so that she might drop visiting the audience and not have the numbers suffer. Supreme effort London, the closest ``Beehive'' offers to a narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. , displays song and dance gifts beyond what she showed on ``American Idol.'' During the Supremes set, DeGruccio quizzically quiz·zi·cal adj. 1. Suggesting puzzlement; questioning. 2. Teasing; mocking: "His face wore a somewhat quizzical almost impertinent air" Lawrence Durrell. has London's Diana Ross getting into a mini diva war with her Supremes. With music this solid and singers this engaging, cutesiness hardly seems necessary. Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson@dailynews.com BEEHIVE - Three stars Where: El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday; through Oct. 8. Tickets: $32.50 to $45. (866) 811-4111 or visit www.valleymusicaltheatre.com or elportaltheatre.com In a nutshell: Here's buzz: The '60s still rock. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Sylvia MacCalla, LaToya London and Staci Francis bring 1960s girl group the Supremes to life in ``Beehive,'' at the El Portal Theatre through Oct. 8. |
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