‘Taffetas’ Strolls Sweetly Through the ‘50s

“The Taffetas: A Musical Journey Through the Fifties,” which opened over the weekend at the Grove Theater Center’s snug Gem Theater, reflects the era when a girl’s reply to the question “What do you look for most in a boy?” went like this: “A Chevrolet convertible.”

That may still be an answer these days, but there’s no mistaking the candy-sweet nostalgia for the I Like Ike years, which are extolled in this charming, kitschy production with a burnished sentimentality too harmless to give offense.

A pleasant summer-stock show, “The Taffetas” is more of a tongue-in-cheek revue than a musical journey. Edmund Gaynes, the producer from the San Fernando Valley who has installed it here, has brought in four good singers and a live band. But there’s no story to speak of, just a setup.

The four Taffeta sisters have come to New York by bus all the way from Muncie, Ind., for a TV appearance. We are the studio audience, and it’s roughly 1958. Ed Sullivan might be sitting in the audience, hoping to spot new talent for his nationally televised variety show “The Toast of the Town.” Maybe, just maybe, he’ll like what he sees and, God willing, book the Taffetas. This would bring them--yikes!--instant fame.

“The Taffetas” really is a living, breathing jukebox that has more than an hour’s worth of peachy-keen songs and medleys in it. These sisters invoke the vinyl days of 45 rpm singles and the sainted memories of Dinah Shore, the McGuire Sisters, Pat Boone, Patti Page and dozens of other pop icons long since gone from the scene.

Cheryl, Peggy, Donna and Kaye Taffeta start the evening with “Sh-Boom” and “Mr. Sandman,” keep it going with “I’m Sorry,” “Cry” and “Old Cape Cod” and don’t quit until they’ve done “Love Letters in the Sand,” “Puppy Love,” “Sincerely,” “Johnny Angel,” “Mr. Lee,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Little Darlin’ ” and 34 more hits on the cusp of rock ‘n’ roll.

If Barbie dolls could sing, they’d be lucky to sing like the Taffetas, who sound terrific harmonically and look, indeed, like the cutest Barbie dolls you ever did see. All four singers--Jennifer Winkler, Lise-Marie Thomas, Kimberly Weiner and Trisha Rapier--maintain the bright illusion of innocence and carry off their roles with likable pertness.

The easiest way to tell the Taffeta sisters apart is to check their wigs, which come in four colors: brown, blond, black and red. Well-defined characters they’re not. But they are well-dressed, warmly lit, quickly paced and smartly directed by Pamela Hall. They’re also backed by a live trio (piano, bass and drums).

With luck, “The Taffetas” could become a summer keeper. It’s entertaining and, by coincidence, there’s a free classic-car gathering down the street from the Gem on Friday evenings before the show. Together they make a perfect fit.

* “The Taffetas,” Gem Theater, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove. Thursday-Sunday, 8 p.m. Ends Aug. 25. $19-$23. (714) 741-9550. Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Trisha Rapier: Cheryl

Lise-Marie Thomas: Peggy

Kimberly Weiner: Donna

Jennifer Winkler: Kaye

A MusiComedy Co. production of a musical conceived by Rick Lewis, produced by Edmund Gaynes, directed by Pamela Hall. Set design Mark Klopsenstein. Lighting design David Darwin. Musical director Frank Basile. Choreographer Patsy Sabline.