Group Ready to Swim to Sink El Toro Airport

Don’t confuse them with the twentysomething Orange County ska-punk band the Aquabats.

Though they perform in costume, like the Aquabats, the Aquadettes are about a half-century older and perform in the water.

Leisure World’s sixtysomething synchronized swimming team, the Aquadettes, has added an encore performance on Monday to its 33rd annual Aqua Follies.

The popular review of senior women, ranging in age from 55 to 84, has already sold out this weekend’s four performances. Monday’s encore is a last-minute effort to raise money to fight a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. All proceeds will benefit Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, which supports anti-airport political candidates.

“During Desert Storm, cargo and military jets flew over night and day and gave us an example of what it would be like having an airport,” said Aquadette Beverly Margolis. “To have a commercial airport in this area would be deadly.”

Margolis said the group hopes

to donate $5,250 if Monday’s show sells out. Considering the Follies sell out every year, they shouldn’t have much to worry about.

The Aqua Follies is a 90-minute vaudeville-like revue of 10 self-produced, water-ballet performances, set to songs including Henry Mancini’s “Moon River.”

From choreography to costume design and musical selection, the Aquadettes do most everything themselves. They practice three nights a week during the summer.

Margolis, 68, said she had never done anything like this before moving to Leisure World nine years ago. “It’s very difficult and takes a lot of strength to do what we do,” Margolis said.

This year’s show features senior Olympic gold medalist Bob Christians and former vaudevillian Vonna Snyder.

Christians, an “Aquadude,” said he feels lucky to be performing with the traditionally all-female revue.

“I don’t know why they let me join this year,” Christians joked. “At least I haven’t dropped [Vonna].”

Monday’s encore performance is at 8 p.m. at Clubhouse 1 in Leisure World. Tickets sell for $15 today from noon to 4 p.m. at the box office, in the administration building. For reservations, call (949) 588-0271.