Photo by Ken Jacques
Mixtape
More than five years after Lamb’s Players’ Mixtape ended its lengthy residency at the Horton Grand Theatre in downtown, the ’80s musical revue is back, this time at Lamb’s Coronado venue. For lovers of that decade, this show is, to borrow the title of a memorable song by The Cure, just like heaven. That Cure song is naturally on Mixtape’s gargantuan playlist.
The ’80s was a decade of excess, and Mixtape crams way, way too much into nearly two and a half hours of nostalgia. From remembering Pac-Man and The Smurfs, to acknowledging the Challenger space shuttle tragedy, it all feels, well… excessive. That being said, it’s no easy feat to musically document an entire decade. Then again, Lamb’s has done it on other occasions, with its ’60s-’70s-inflected Boomers and the sweeping retrospective American Rhythm.
Created by Jon Lorenz and Colleen Kollar Smith and directed by Kerry Meads (who also directed the original Horton run), Mixtape is a multi-genre retrospective. There are nods to the superstars of the time (Michael Jackson, Madonna) and dance pop (Wang Chung, Wham!), as well as to new wave (Duran Duran, Oingo Boingo), pop balladry (Lionel Richie), R&B (the Pointer Sisters), hair bands (Bon Jovi), and even TV theme songs (Cheers, Hill Street Blues, et al). The tunes come speedily, one after another, and most of them are performed only in part, but all are faithfully rendered by a stout live band.
Two of the ensemble performers, David S. Humphrey and Joy Yandell, are Mixtape veterans. They’re joined for the new iteration of the musical by Angela Chatelain Avila, Marqell Edward Clayton, Janaya Mahealani Jones, A.J. Mendoza and Shawn W. Smith. Their stamina and enthusiasm are impressive, as is the choreography by co-creator Smith and the slew of period costumes designed by Jemima Dutra. Colorful and commemorative projections designed by Michael McKeon enhance the trip back through time.
Mixtape resorts to a little piety and preachiness (cue U2) along the way, but the majority of the stage time is devoted to the MTV-driven visual flash and musical eclecticism that defined the decade. For Gen Xers with long memories, that’s as good as it gets.
Mixtape runs through Sept. 1 at Lamb’s Players Theatre in Coronado. $28-$82; lambsplayers.org
—David L. Coddon
Theater reviews run weekly.Write to davidc@sdcitybeat.com.
Opening:
Avenue Q: A musical comedy about a recent college grad who moves to New York City and is surrounded by foul-mouthed puppets. Presented by OB Theatre Company, it opens July 5 at the OB Playhouse in Ocean Beach. newvillagearts.org
The Sunshine Boys: Neil Simon’s comedy about a young theatre agent who attempts to reunite his famous uncle with his former vaudevillian acting partner after a 12-year estrangement. Directed by Steve Murdock, it opens July 5 at Lamplighters Community Theatre in La Mesa. lamplighterslamesa.com
The Tale of Despereaux: Based on the children’s book, this musical tells the tale of a mighty mouse who wants to become a knight. Presented by PigPen Theatre Co., it opens July 6 at the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. theoldglobe.org
Miss Saigon: The Broadway production of Claude-Michel Schönberg’s adaptation of Madama Butterfly tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with a young GI during the Vietnam War. Presented by Broadway San Diego, it opens July 9 at the San Diego Civic Theatre in Downtown. broadwaysd.com
Another Roll of the Dice: This world premiere musical works as a pseudo sequel to Guys and Dolls and includes hits from the Frank Loesser songbook. Based on the stories of Damon Runyon, it opens July 10 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. northcoastrep.org