Nextstage Theatre Festival – The Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go!

Reviewed by Paula Citron

The Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go!
Nextstage Theatre Festival
Written and directed by Allison Beula
Music composed by Jeffery Straker
Starring Sarah Kuzio, Thomas Duplessie, Evan Dowling, Stephan Dickson, Amelia Sirianni, Nick Nasrallah and Stan MacDonald (with music by the von DRATS)
Factory Theatre Mainspace
Jan. 4 to 15, 2011

The Nextstage Theatre Festival showcases promising Fringe shows that deserve a boost to the next level of polish.

The Tiki Bikini Beach Paradise Party A-Go-Go! is a delightful musical written, directed, choreographed and co-produced by Allison Beula, who also wrote the lyrics to the original songs composed by Jeffery Straker. She even worked on costume and prop design. Beula is clearly a theatrical force of nature.

Tiki Bikini is a satiric but loving homage to the 1950 beach party/surfer movies featuring lead characters called Jeannette Bowlajello and Freddie Babbleon. The script is filled with modern day double entendres, while capturing the gee-whiz quality of the originals.

The 15-member cast is full of energy and really into the fun. The on-stage band is none other than the popular von DRATS, kings of the underground. The four original songs fit gloriously with those of the period.

This is a show that could really have legs.

Nextstage Theatre Festival continues at Factory Theatre until Jan. 15.