“Route 66” gets you where you want to go
The days of AM radio and service stations that actually provided service are nostalgically remembered in the second offering of the Old Lyric Repertory Company, the musical “Route 66.”
The production’s title, of course, refers to the once-famous highway that linked the coasts and passed through much of the nation’s center and southwestern core. “Route 66” is a musical revue, a back-to-back non-stop remembrance of music you could sing along with, presented by four actor-singers: Andrew Dolan, Richie Call, Jon McBride and Tyson Smith.
A large, overhead radio dial and voiceovers mimickng radio announcers from the ’50s is the only “plot” device to move the show along as the four cast members take a road trip from their Midwestern full-service gas station to California. Tunes about cars and communities and cowboys take the stage, sometimes in solo, often as a harmonizing quartet.
The OLRC group is at their best when they are all on stage together. Their harmonies are as smooth as a grape Nehi, while the solos occasionally feel like karaoke night down at the Texaco station. During a well-received opening night performance, Dolan looked to be a little ill at ease, not enjoying himself as much as the other three. Director Kris Bushman made the choice to mike the quartet. While there were no technical glitches and the volume allowed for every word of every song to be clearly heard — a bonus, for sure — it did seem to retard the players from really letting loose and belting out some of the numbers. It would have been fun to see how they would have done without being held back by the slim, almost hidden microphones.
The audience loved the songs from the ’50s, particularly those when the music was played down and the nonsense was played up. Just when the music could have become repetitive, costumes and interaction was introduced to keep the fun at a high level. Call was especially delightful as a 50-gallon-hat wearing Texas cowboy, as well as a diner waitress just one scene later.
As “Route 66” hit California, though, the music moved into the ’60s, with songs about surfing and cars, and the quartet seemed to lose their edge. Dolan’s doo-waps and background movements became even stiffer and some of the harmonies just missed. Jan and Dean and the little old lady from Pasadena all twitched in their graves as the group wrapped up the show.
“Route 66” uses a background recorded soundtrack, rather than a live band. Patrons accustomed to OLRC revues having a live band will miss that, but it would have taken a heck of a band to keep up the lickety-split pace that dominated most of the show. “Route 66” is an easy-going, pleasant, if not perfect, trip down memory lane.