THEATER REVIEW : Dolly, Mame Drop in for ‘Girls’ Revue of Broadway Favorites

Jerry Herman may not be a household name among those with few theater music albums in their collections, but he’s one of Broadway’s most successful composers with “Hello, Dolly!,” “Mame” and “La Cage aux Folles” to his credit.

Songs from those and several other shows were compiled a number of years ago into a revue called “Jerry’s Girls,” the current offering of the Camarillo Community Theatre.

If local theatergoers feel a bit of deja vu, they might be recalling a 1990 production of the same show, performed by the Conejo Players and directed by Pamela Matheson, who co-directed (with husband Doug) this version and co-stars as well.

The gimmick, other than its being a collection of songs by the same writer, is that the show is performed by an all-female cast, here including 16--count ‘em--16 singers and dancers ranging in age from teens to . . . old enough to portray Dolly Levi and Auntie Mame.

This production of “Jerry’s Girls” starts slowly, with the singers appearing stiff and inhibited, perhaps by the myriad of colorful costumes assembled by the Mathesons and producer Betty Sullivan. By the time Debi Lewis appears for “Wherever He Ain’t” (a saucy number from “Mack and Mabel”), it’s clear that everything’s under control, and that there’s plenty of personality to be displayed in addition to the assortment of dresses.

Lewis sparkles in her numbers (also including “Before the Parade Passes By” from “Hello, Dolly!” and “Nelson” from “A Day in Hollywood”), and the other performers loosen up considerably as the show goes on.

Highlights include the “Vaudeville Medley,” with a version of “So Long, Dearie” by Rebecca Elaine Gruett, and “Put It Back On,” one of a few comedy numbers, sung by Lady Jan Faulkner; a version of “Hello, Dolly!” in which just about everyone mimics Carol Channing; and several samples of mass tap dancing, choreographed by Deidre Richards and nicely performed by several members of the ensemble.

Musical director Andre Oei conducts the sturdy four-piece band, and Jayme Housh receives credit for staging one of the tap numbers.

Herman’s songs aren’t consistently memorable--he’s only written a handful of what might be considered Broadway standards--but they’re generally intelligent, hummable enough, and lend themselves to the visual treatment so evident throughout “Jerry’s Girls.”

Details

* WHAT: “Jerry’s Girls.”

* WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday; matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday and July 23 (Ends July 29).

* WHERE: Camarillo Airport Theater, 330 Skyway Drive, on the grounds of Camarillo Airport.

* HOW MUCH: $10, general admission; $8, students, seniors and active military; $5, children under 12.

* CALL: 388-5716 reservations; 482-6340 group rates.