Review: "The Taffetas"

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By Jeff Korbelik / Lincoln Journal Star

The Lincoln Community Playhouse has struggled with its jukebox musicals this season but, fortunately, is finishing the series on a good note.

“The Taffetas,” a musical revue saluting female groups from the 1950s, wasn’t great, mind you, but had enough moments in the 90-minute show to make for an enjoyable night at the theater.

Conceived by Rick Lewis, “The Taffetas” is the story of four singing sisters from Muncie, Ind., who are making their national television debut.

The song list includes such well-known ditties as “Johnny Angel,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Mister Sandman” and “Volare.”

The Playhouse production is directed by Kirk Monismith with Karen Freimund Wills, Kristine Kapustka, Lindsay Aherns and Kristin Tripe playing the sisters.

As has been the case with the Playhouse’s other jukebox musicals this season, “The Taffetas” lacked the vocal prowess from its cast that is needed to make a favorable impression.

Of the quartet, only Wills had the chops and range to sing the songs. Her performance of “Where the Boys Are” was outstanding, bringing the most enthusiastic response from the nearly sold-out Studio Theater.

The other three, however, struggled with projection — Tripe particularly was hard to hear at times — and pitches.

The show also featured a handful of gaffes, ranging from a botched light cue at the end of the first act to Tripe’s torn white dress to the so-so attempt at covering Aherns’ tattoos with make-up. Monismith should have considered putting Aherns in a gown with sleeves.

What worked were the group numbers, especially those featuring Wills’ choreography. The quartet performed a charming rendition of “Three Bells,” with the singers using their full-length gowns to depict ringing bells. It was a nice touch.

Casting Andy Dillehay as Cousin Ricky was a good move. He performed a comical turn with the quartet on “Achoo Cha Cha.”

In addition to the Cousin Ricky scene, there were several other strong comical moments. These were the areas where Kapustka, one of the area’s better comedic actors, excelled. The Q&A with the sisters brought several laughs, including every time Kapustka, playing a dumb blonde, answered a question.

Monismith and set designer Brandon Nelson also had a keen eye for color. The stage consisted of three pastel colored platforms, with one containing the three-piece band led by musical director Mollie Baldwin Manner. The platforms matched the gowns in color for a pleasing effect.

If the Playhouse plans to try any more revues in the future, the key will be finding good, strong voices. Enthusiasm will carry a show only so far.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.