ON THEATER: ‘Wonderettes’ really ‘Marvelous’ in Laguna

You don’t have to have come of age in the late 1950s as did yours truly to thoroughly enjoy “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” but having a built-in reference point to the music increases your appreciation considerably.

This poodle-skirted, taffeta-tousled tribute to a legendary era in musical history, now in its Orange County premiere at the Laguna Playhouse, has been dubbed “the female ‘Forever Plaid.’” But while the Plaids came back from the grave for one last night of early-’50s harmonizing, the Wonderettes are a more makeshift lot, thrown together on prom night in 1958 only because the lead singer of the scheduled group was expelled for smoking in school.

Their klutziness and internal bickering offset the fact that all four have world-class voices and can harmonize like crazy when required. Comedy and music haven’t battled this vociferously for the spotlight since the days of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

Created by Roger Bean, who directs the Laguna production, “The Marvelous Wonderettes” runs the gamut of late 1950s and early ’60s pop music, but not merely in concert mode.

The four ladies intertwine their offstage lives into their performances, setting up each number with a personal vignette.

There’s Suzy (Bets Malone, who created the role), a ditsy blonde who must remove her gum before warbling her songs. There’s Betty Jean (Julie Dixon Jackson), the mischievous and jealous scamp who’s quick to blow up but slow to forgive.

There’s also Cindy Lou (Darcie Roberts), the seductress of the quartet with her eyes on Betty Jean’s beau. And there’s Missy (Misty Cotton), the bespectacled plain Jane member of the troupe, who discovers her inner vamp.

All four sing beautifully, but it’s Cotton’s poignant “You Don’t Own Me” solo that draws applause in mid-flight. She also scores in her comedy segments by drawing an unsuspecting front-row patron up onto the stage to play “Mr. Lee,” her high-school faculty crush.

After intermission, the Wonderettes return for their class’ 10th reunion — and their first performance together since that 1958 prom. Given that scenario, they’re in remarkably fine voice and harmony — though some crucial changes have been made, particularly to Malone’s character.

Bolstered by Janet Miller’s fine choreography and Brian Baker’s upbeat musical direction, the Wonderettes truly are “marvelous” with as splendid comic chops as riveting vocal cords. Bobby Pearce’s costumes are true trash with flash.

Arrive early not only because of the Festival traffic, but to drink in Michael Carnahan’s school gym setting and its championship banners (the chess club has won four of the past five state titles and the girls’ JV golf team also snagged a trophy). “The Marvelous Wonderettes” kicks off the playhouse season with a bang, belting out more than 30 numbers from a golden age of pop music and mixing in some equally marvelous comedy.

TOM TITUS reviews local theather for the Coastline Pilot.