AUDIENCE FASHIONS ‘SARAFINA!’ : Show Stoppers

If fashion is any indicator, there were two audiences at the gala opening of “Sarafina!,” the South African musical that began its West Coast run at the Doolittle Theatre last Thursday evening.

One faction, wearing colorfully printed, loosely draped dashikis with matching hats or headwraps, used the opportunity to costume themselves in traditional African dress (albeit with an all-American flair for accessorizing).

The other, sporting everything from colorful chiffon baby-doll dresses and gentlemanly shirts with vests or fitted blazers to funky Reggae-inspired separates, displayed the creative diversity for which Los Angeles style-setters are known.

With a few glaring exceptions (Keenen Ivory Wayans of “In Living Color” should have left his sweat pants and T-shirt back in the locker room), the fashion parade in front of the box office was nearly as entertaining (we said nearly!) as the exuberant performances on stage.