Review: ‘Trip of Love,’ a Light and Energetic Collection of ’60s Hits

You want to have a musical review of one of the most powerful and important social periods in recent history – complete with reference to psychedelic drugs, the Vietnam War, the anti-war and protest movement – with a nearly all-white cast? What appeared to be *one* Black person, *no* Asians, and perhaps a smattering of other not-completely-white performers? Really? Sixties So White?

The Black presence in the Vietnam War – in which poor Blacks were disproportionately sent to fight and die – is erased, and instead, the fate of the soldier is represented by two clean-cut white guys. The show pays brief homage to the Black “girl group” phenomenon of the era – embodied by such immortals as The Supremes, The Marvelettes, The Vandellas, The Shirelles, The Ronettes, etc. – except that they had to replace 2/3 of the members of the classic Black-girl-trio act with white girls, because, unfortunately, their sole Black performer (the amazingly beautiful and talented Dionne Figgins, who raised, briefly, the show’s only reference to the tremendously transformative Black Power movement – the black fist) couldn't be in three places at the same time.

This was an erasure, pure and simple. The producers set out to take this period, scrub it and scrub it and scrub it until all vestiges of truth and raw emotion and art and genius and struggle were reduced to a bright, shiny object free from all those things that they apparently disdain: chest and facial hair, flab, complexity, and melanin.

I absolutely love this show Especially the lead Kelly Felthaus.She looks just like Alice in Wonderland the character I think she is Alice type in the show.She stands out in a cast that is really great.Especially talented is Peter Nelson who Does a fantastic job with the songs It'sNot Unusual and I Saw Her Standing There. The showstopper number For me was Dione Figgins doing These Boots are Made for walking, such Energy and talent.As a product of the 60s the songs I'll bring back great memories I've seen the show many times and I wish there was a CD recording of it.For a trip back in time go see "Trip Of Love"

This is a wacky, mesmerizing extravaganza of wonderfulness. I've seen this show twice and will see it again! I view this performance as spoof of 60s culture- the wide range of pathos captured by the song selection. One moment I'm on a cool surfing safari and the next I'm pensive and wondering "where all the flowers have gone?" What I kinda love is that every cast member thinks he/she is the star! The chorus boys especially glow at every opportunity to perform shirtless or show off a fabulous costume change (the fringe! the beach ensembles, the technicolor hippie garb- they're all brilliant!). The soloist who opens the production is really is a whole different show. I'm not really sure if she's supposed to be the narrator or just a "Debbie Downer" who sort of appears just was the fun is getting started. She does have an amazing voice and her "endless amount of fabric" outfits are nothing less than astounding! The wedding dress get-up she wears high up on the the swing while crooning "Moon River" is an image I'll not soon forget. Everyone onstage is having a great time and so did i!

I don't agree with this review. Loved the show as did the person I went with. Many audience members also were saying how they loved it as we left! Great evening!