Flowertown Players Revisit Feel Good Music in Beehive : The 60’s Musical

Ensemble Cast Have Fun Narrating Songs That Helped Shape Iconic Rock n’ Roll Era

By: Jeff Walker, Entertainment Writer

Flowertown Players celebrate several of the most iconic female artists who single-handedly helped shape the 1960’s, as they present an animated and high-octane version of ‘Beehive: The 60’s Musical’. With legendary songs such as ‘My Boyfriend’s Back,” ‘Be My Baby’, ‘Son of a Preacher Man’, and ‘Me and Bobby McGee’, Beehive takes audiences and baby boomers back to the era of civil rights and the Vietnam War, when the lone solace for young teens was songs resonating from their transistor radios.

Beehive: The 60’s Musical explores the journey of eight coming of age young women as they navigate perhaps the most turbulent era during the early days of rock n’ roll. From the girl groups of the early 1960’s to the pioneering rockers of the psychedelic Woodstock generation, Beehive is a non-stop feel-good hit parade power packed with over two dozen unforgettable Top 40 songs.

An equal mix of playful comedy, satire, and realism, each song in Beehive represents a particular time period during the 1960’s, with the ladies providing witty banter between the numbers. The musical touches on the pivotal moments that defined the era including young girls’ dreamy fascinations with Elvis and the Beatles, reflecting sadly on the the loss of JFK and MLK as well.

While it’s not uncommon, especially in community theatre their collective voices ring louder than a few of their solo numbers. Several standout performances include Chris Tugnoli’s stirring rendition of the Connie Francis classic ‘Where the Boys Are’ and Orianna Sells during her Aretha Franklin medley. No one had more fun in the spotlight than Anicia Daniels Brown paying tribute to the legendary Janis Joplin.

Under the careful direction of Eric and Susan Gibson the ensemble cast at Flowertown Players did a delightful job of entertaining the crowd, inviting the audience to sing-along, clap, and even dance if the songs moved you. The set is simple, and neon bright reflecting a televised dance show, allowing the ladies to come and go with ease.

Double kudos to Susan Gibson and Daniel Robinson for dressing the cast in period attire, as well as Angela Tucker for stage management and more importantly taking care of the wigs. Wardrobe and hairstyles are a big part of Beehive, and these three knocked that element out of the park! Kudos as well to the cast for making quick costume changes.

Beehive: The 60’s Musical is a lighthearted romp looking through the eyes of young women as they grow up during a tempestuous period in American culture, and a nice trip down memory lane for baby boomers. Beehive is 90 percent songs and 10 percent repartee among the cast, and that represents a 100 percent groovy, feel-good time. Weekend performances run thru Sunday May 1st at Summerville Community Theatre 133 S Main Street in Summerville.

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