`WONDERETTES' LIGHT, CHARMING AND MARVELOUS.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

The night is still young at the 1958 Springfield High School senior prom, but things are already threatening to unravel. Specifically, two members of the teen quartet providing the evening's musical entertainment -- a group that calls itself The Marvelous Wonderettes -- are sabotaging each other's songs. Over a boy, of course.

``Betty Jean,'' one of the combatants, is admonished: ``Be marvelous!''

And so she is. And, against some rather strong odds, so is this show.

The world needs a plot-free revue of '50s and '60s music sung by thirtysomething women in prom gowns about as much our streets need an extra 30,000 vehicles. Yet, there's something kind of friskily magical about Kirsten Chandler, Kim Huber, Julie Dixon Jackson and Bets Malone, and the exuberance they bring to, er, the dance. ``The Marvellous Wonderettes,'' in the midst of a hit run at the El Portal's Forum Theatre, goes beyond comfort-

food theater. This is potato chip -- sample one and you're hooked -- drama.

Author/director Roger Bean, who wrote ``Wonderettes'' and its sequel for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, takes the helm again in NoHo, and he's got original cast member Malone (also the production's dance captain) back on board as dizzy, gum-chewing Suzy Simpson. How expertly those two must know this material by now.

But if this show is to spark -- and in NoHo it most certainly does -- that fact is largely due to the ability/chemistry of its foursome and to presentation smarts. The Forum may not accommodate a band, but everything else about Bean's production screams ``you are here'' with equal parts cheekiness and accuracy. Kurt Boetcher's aptly decorated bandstand, Jeremy Pivnick's lighting and Sharell Martin's costumes are equally spot-on.

The audience gets in on the act as well. The night I saw the show, more than a few spectators were sporting period-specific hairdos and letter jackets. Very few, I'd wager, don't start scribbling furiously when the election of the prom queen comes around. ``The Marvelous Wonderettes'' is that kind of show.

The four-person assemblage of best friends and school spirit boosters includes newly pinned Suzy (Malone), bespectacled Missy (Huber), ultra-spirited B.J. (Jackson) and boy magnet Cindy Lou (Chandler). Each gets several chances to sing lead as well as backup. Individual stories (such as they are) are told through the songs: ``Allegheny Moon,'' ``Seventeen,'' ``Teacher's Pet,'' ``Lucky Lips,'' etc.

In the second act, the Wonderettes reunite at their 10th reunion, and trade their prom frocks for '60s coifs and go-go boots. The score updates accordingly: ``Respect,'' ``Wedding Bell Blues,'' ``The Shoop Shoop Song.''

The musical's song recognition delight is enhanced by the renditions and arrangements. Chandler, Jackson, Huber and Malone -- all well-known musical-theater performers locally -- can all flat-out sing. Through Brian Baker's orchestrations, the ladies present these familiar songs in classical girl-group fashion.

Will Missy get her prince? Are reunions in the cards for B.J., Suzy and their respective beaux? Can B.J. and Cindy Lou set aside past rivalries and, once and for all, resolve to ``be marvelous'' to each other?

Golly, it hardly matters in an evening as fluffy and charming as this one.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

[e-mail]

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES - Three stars

Where: El Portal Forum Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; through Feb. 11.

Tickets: $40. [phone]

In a nutshell: When froth has taste.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Kim Huber, left, Bets Malone, Julie Dixon Jackson and Kirsten Chandler star in ``The Marvelous Wonderettes.''