ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280116
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: THEATER REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
If the Everly Brothers' music is the definitive sound of the '50s, then Mill Mountain Theatre's "Dream, Dream, Dream" may well be the ultimate '50s nostalgia trip.
This musical, which opened Friday, is less a play than a string of songs separated by "Happy Days"-style dialogue. Plot-wise, there's not much to it. Harmony-wise, it's heaven.
Written by K.C. Wilson and Jim Baker, who also plays one of the two leads - terminal nerd Neil Trovert - "Dream, Dream, Dream" is set in a dying diner called Beverly's in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Beverly's doesn't see much action anymore, so the owner's son - Neil - is praying for some way to come up with enough cash to save the diner.
In comes "T" (Drew Geraci), a very cool angel, who hopes his good deed will earn him a place at the heavenly rock 'n' roll table. Namely, at Buddy Holly's Cricket Club.
When "T" discovers Neil's passion for the Everlys, he hatches a plan to put on a show, with he and Neil playing the famous brothers and singing their famous songs. The challenge is to cure Neil of his uncoolness. But even a heavenly trip to The Gap isn't enough; Neil is one of those guys who likes the waistline of his pants wrapped snugly around his rib cage.
Only divine intervention - a misguided dose of "cool-atude" - snaps Neil out of his nerdiness, just in time for the big fund-raiser. And the (B)Everly Brothers are born.
As usual, Geraci is good, and he and Baker (he calls himself Jeffrey Brocklin in the playbill) produce some wonderful harmonies. The warm, sea foam-green and salmon-toned set is a terrific piece of work, with just the right touches, including movies posters from "Rebel Without a Cause" and "The Wild Ones," and a picture of Marilyn Monroe directly above the jukebox, which is named for her.
Unquestionably, the atmosphere is just right for an audience full of '50s enthusiasts, all of whom have numerous opportunities to participate in the play's game show-style second act. And, boy, did they at Thursday night's preview performance.
"Dream, Dream, Dream," directed by Russell Kaplan, may not offer a whole lot to think about - but that's not what the music of the '50s was about anyway. It was about innocence and endless possibility, qualities that this musical captures very well indeed.
``Dream, Dream, Dream'' runs through Nov. 10 at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke. Tickets are $18-23. For show times or other information, call 342-5740.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB