American Coast Theatre’s ambitious revue-style rock’ n’ roll tribute has many highlights but suffers from overkill.
Rock’ n’ roll tributes come in all shapes and sizes. When written for the stage, the best of these provide musical numbers that embody or typify rock’s various genres while placing them within the context of their eras.
While “The Beat Goes On” does exactly that, for the most part, it makes for a trying evening of theater.
That’s because the 2014 revue seems intent on acknowledging nearly every major hit song from every major school of rock, from the early’ 50s up through the 2010s.
Vanda Eggington wrote the show for Vanguard University’s Theatre Arts Department and directs and music-directs it under the college’s American Coast Theater Company banner using 13 students, each of whom portrays dozens of famed rockers.
Eggington’s M. O. is to state a style prevalent in whatever decade – eg. surf rock, the British Invasion, disco, psychedelic rock, Motown, new wave, alternative rock – recap the era’s major events, societal trends and products, then to reel off dozens of songs in the form of a medley. Each segment also contains at least a couple of full-length musical numbers, which are the true heart of “Beat.”
The medleys, cleverly crafted to connect disparate lyric lines from songs whose only connection is that they’ re of the same sub-genre, are where Eggington shows her creativity – but by the time we get to the fifth or sixth such mélange, the technique becomes wearying.
Still, many highlights and memorable moments abound, and don’ t let it be said that Eggington’s cast isn’ t game to try just about anything. With such a small company, that can mean lightning-fast costume and makeup changes while rapidly diving into and out of dissimilar vocal and dance styles.
The musical selections are sure to please rock lovers of all ages, especially with Eggington and choreographer Bretlyn Schmitt-Lazaris’ meticulous attention to detail. Earning their stripes in fulfilling multiple roles are talented cast members Schmitt-Lazaris, Winter Bassett, Josiah Dominguez, Ashley Elizabeth, Gabrielle Incremona, Amanda Kasparian, Nick Lazaris, Kristina Leopold, Cornelius Lindsey, Scott Roberts and Ryan Schultze.
Justin Budds and Grace Osimo act as our tour guides in this multi-decade time machine, providing the narration that sets the stage for each new style of rock. The technique uses Budds to relate the facts while Osimo’s persona proves increasingly, and comically, clueless. As such, she good-naturedly allows herself to be the butt of the script’s jokes – as when in the’ 70s segment she proclaims that the new late-night TV show “Saturday Night Live” will never last beyond 1975 or that the new movie “Star Wars” will be a one-hit wonder.
The band – with Eggington and Joshua Martin sharing duties on piano, Jaden Ee on guitar, Jordan Lamoureaux on bass and Glenn Ochenkoski on drums – provides live performance of the multi-genre score, one of the production’s chief assets.
From a visual standpoint, “Beat” earns an “A+, ” with performer Incremona’s costumes proving historically accurate in nearly every respect. Providing even more visual punch are Paul Eggington’s graphics and archival photos, which effectively set the stage and provide the social and political context for every major movement in rock’s ongoing evolution.
When: Through July 30.7: 30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7: 30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays
Where: Lyceum Theatre, Vanguard University, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Tickets: $20-$30
Length: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Suitability: All ages
Info: 714-668-6145, vanguard.edu
