On Stage: Travel back in time

Time travel is possible, with the help of some groovy music at the Schoolhouse Theatre. "Groovin': A 60's and 70's Flashback," which plays through Aug. 19, will take you back with great songs by some of that era's best loved and most renowned singers, songwriters and bands.

A lot of big things happened in the '60s and '70s that changed America. The music of that time reflected all those changes. Everyone, regardless of age, knows many of the hits of this era. They have stood the test of time and continue to entertain and enlighten.

"Groovin'" begins with a taste of the 1960s. The first act breaks down the music of that decade into even more specific genres. Several classic girl-group songs, such as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and "Please Mr. Postman" get the ball rolling and your toes tapping.

From there they move on to some great Beach Boys' songs. The music of Motown comes next, followed by Beatles hits from the British invasion.

The last segment of the first act is dedicated to Woodstock, featuring numbers with the hippie flair.

The second act of "Groovin'" pays homage to the popular music of the 1970s. Again, the numbers are divided into subsets based on era and artist style.

A classic rock set, including "Sweet Home Alabama," is the first offering of this time period. Next, songs made famous by Carole King and The Carpenters make their way to the Schoolhouse stage. Versions of the pop stylings of Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and others follow.

As we approach the end of the show, we hit the disco. The Village People, Donna Summer and even the Hustle are highlighted in this segment.

"Groovin'" features a cast of two men and three women: Elise Benzing, Dana Galter, Victor Legaretta, Bobby Logue and Samantha Rotella. Vocally, Galter and Legaretta stand out by infusing soul and spunk into their featured numbers.

Victor Legaretta's work as writer and director of this review show his strength in picking a good mix of favorite songs.

In a creative touch, each musical vignette is segued with announcements by Kathy, the operator from Time-Life Books. What made it even more interesting was the fact that the woman providing the voice-over, local actress Jennie Hollander-Carosiello, actually portrayed that role for eight years in the real commercials being parodied.

In one of the most fun moments in the show, Victor single-handedly portrays the characters of several of the hit television shows of the time while performing their theme songs. I would have liked to see more of Legaretta's signature sense of humor like this. It always adds to the productions.

This production's costumes, by Amy Jo Kunkelman, provide a fun look back at some of the funky fashion trends from the '60s and '70s. The cast was constantly changing into new "threads" that suited their numbers. Some fun and funny wigs provided the retro hair dos and don'ts of those two decades.

The folks out at the Schoolhouse Theatre deserve some respect for continuing to offer a summer season. Many area venues have gone dark during this time of the year, as summer audiences are hard to come by. They're performing two different productions in rotation, "Groovin: A '60s and '70s Flashback" and "Rock Around the Clock: A Tribute to the '50s."

"Groovin'" is performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays through Aug. 19. The Schoolhouse Theatre is at 2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 16 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (239) 472-6862.