Louis Prima and Keely Smith were as hip as they come. The married singing duo dominated the Las Vegas nightclub scene from the 1950s through the early 1960s with a fast-paced mix of New Orleans jazz, classic blues, Italian folk songs, and early rock 'n' roll. Hoping to expose a new generation to their parents' music, sisters Toni Elizabeth Prima and Luanne Prima, along with director Randy Johnson and choreographer Thomas Porras, created The Wildest!, a new theatre piece using the songs that made Louis and Keely famous. This world premiere production suggests that the concept has potential, but the creators have yet to discover how to fully use it.
For two solid hours (with one 10-minute intermission) an ensemble of 12 young performers engages in high-energy dance routines while singing Prima and Smith's arrangements of such classics as "That Old Black Magic" and "Just a Gigolo." There is no narration; rather, the show tries to tell a story through the dancing. The singer/dancers are given character names in the program book, but the attempt to give them distinctive personalities is perfunctory at best. When they finally pair off at the end—or, in some cases, go their separate ways—the effect falls flat. This is party music in which even the soulful ballads tend to turn up-tempo halfway through. It does not lend itself to pathos.
Porras' choreography, which borrows from the popular dances of the era, is clever and fun, and the six-piece onstage jazz band, led by Jay R. Wright, swings hard. But the sound mixing is often wildly off, the volume is way too high, and the scenic design confusing. After intermission, when the program book informs us that the setting has changed from New Orleans to a New York nightclub, the stage is dominated by African-looking masks. Why? The cast works hard and performs capably, but only Olivia Braza, who belts out stylish renditions of some bluesy numbers, makes a strong impression.
"The Wildest!" presented by PCPA Theaterfest at the Marian Theatre, 420 2nd St., Santa Maria, Wed. 2 p.m., Thu.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., July 24-Aug. 7. Also at the Solvang Festival Theatre, 800 S. College, Solvang, Wed.-Sun. 8 p.m., Aug. 13-29. $13.50-28.50. (805) 922- 8313.