The sweet nostalgia of “Beehive: The 60’s Musical” building buzz around Marriott Theatre
The swinging and often times psychedelic Sixties have always managed to stay in style, though perhaps even more so now that “Beehive” is building buzz around the circular stage of the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.
Subtitled “The 60’s Musical,” the vibrant show focuses specifically on the decade’s extraordinary female voices and all the surrounding “flower power,” ensuring its 90 minutes, sans intermission, are stocked full of peace, love and positivity.
Directed and choreographed by Deidre Goodwin, whose Broadway credits include “Spamalot” and “A Chorus Line,” with music direction by Jeff Award Winner Ryan T. Nelson, “Beehive” stars such beloved locals as Emma Grace Bailey, Grace Bobber, Lucy Godinez, Miciah Lathan, Leah Morrow and Aisha Sougou taking turns paying tribute to the classics, alongside a versatile band consisting entirely of women.
Rather than a standard, Broadway-styled narrative, consider this to be more of a concert approach where coming of age observations and anecdotes relating to the period at hand, such as President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and Woodstock are interspersed with a wide array of pop, rock, R&B and country tunes.
The lengthy hit list includes Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party,” The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love,” Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and Dusty Springfield’s “Son Of A Preacher Man,” each performed with the utmost accuracy and “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”
Additional empowerment comes courtesy of Tina Turner’s “River Deep Mountain High/Proud Mary” mash-up, an extensive Aretha Franklin medley, a few other belters featuring Janis Joplin and the fitting finale of Mama Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind Of Music.”
Meanwhile, the props, costumes and hairstyles are absolutely “outta sight” as well, from the static-filled fun of transistor radios and record albums, to mounds of miniskirts, and of course, an array of actual beehives.
Those who grew up in the era are sure to soak up the sweet nostalgia, but “Beehive” also paints these timeless tracks in a fresh light that could just as easily be applied to both the triumphant or tumultuous times of today and be as fully embraced.
