There are a lot of hard jobs in the world, especially now. One that is made to look easy by the cast of Beehive: The 60s Musical, now playing at Virginia Repertory Theater, is simultaneously singing, dancing, and acting in front of a large audience. Performing using any one, much less three of those talents, amounts to nothing less than a superpower!
Beehive: The 60s Musical is a musical revue consisting of dozens of toe-tapping songs from this tumultuous era when many baby boomers came of age. We experience this decade through the eyes of six young women who interpret their lives through the lens of the iconic songs of the time.
Delicious is the word that comes to mind describing this amalgam of sights, sounds, and rhythms. The set (Mercedes Schaum and Amy Bale) is a large jukebox from which singers (and the era) spring to life. Costumes (Sue Griffin and Marcia Miller Hailey) were on display as a parade of platform shoes, gogo boots, geometric patterns, colors like avocado green, flared pants, and miniskirts that made me want to run to thrift stores to mine for gems from the times. Some outfits also provided a dose of wowwww! to these
memorable performances, including the jumpsuits with feather cuffs during Academy Award, Pattie’s flower girl outfit and purple dress, Wanda’s rocking afro and minidress, and Jasmine’s turquoise gown in Make Your Own Kind of Music.
It’s also not often that I get to see “Wig Design” on a show program, and Kevin S. Foster II did not disappoint! A different hair masterpiece crowned each look, and completed the time warp back to the days of my youth. (By the way, a beehive is made by teasing hair into a pile, then combing hair over it).
Music, musical direction (Billy Dye), and choreography (Leslie Owens-Harrington) finishes the multisensory feast as backdrop for the sparkling cast, each one adding a unique flavor to this delightful concoction.
Madison Paige Buck was enticing as Pattie, delivering smooth and powerful vocals that made me stop and savor every note of It’s My Party, Baby I Love You, Son of a Preacher Man, and Be My Little Baby.
Mallory Keene (as Alison) sparks joy with her dancing throughout the show and her delivery of Where the Boys Are, My Boyfriend’s Back, and You Don’t Own Me.
Temperance Jones (Jasmine) enchants with her performances of One Fine Day, Can’t Hurry Love, and I Sold My Heart to the Junkman.
Nicole Baggesen is captivating as Laura, delivering the goods with Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, and Abraham, Martin, and John. Baggesen also performs as Janis Joplin singing Cry Baby, Try (Just a Little Bit Harder), and Me and Bobby McGee, a set that seems like it would cow less experienced performers.
Awa Sal Secka (Gina) was like Beehive’s secret weapon, hiding in plain sight until taking center stage. She generated excitement singing Beehive, and was captivating as Aretha Franklin singing Never Loved a Man (The way That I Loved You) and (You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman.
Jianna Hurt as Wanda delivers solid performances of He Kissed Me as Wanda and To Sir With Love, and absolutely nailed the essence of Tina Turner with a heart-thumping and passionate rendition of Proud Mary and Chain of Fools that made the audience want to stand up and cheer.
In short, Virginia Repertory Theater’s production of Beehive: The 60s Musical is absolutely the bees knees, sure to delight viewers, young and old.
Beehive: The 60s Musical is showing at Virginia Rep’s November Theater now through May 15. Recommended for ages twelve and up, run-time is ninety minutes with no intermission. For showtimes and tickets, go here.
