Disco is staying alive at the Center

Young Chang

Performer Richard Blake says we’re in the middle of a “retro

invasion,” and he’s not just talking about the resurgence of hip huggers

and gold hoops.

It’s more than our health-food kicks, our lava lamps, even the

mainstreaming of yoga.

Blake is referring instead to the media symbol of the ‘70s mood and

cadence, the craze that marked John Travolta’s white polyester suit and

the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” as heirlooms of cultural history.

That’s right. It’s Saturday night at the Orange County Performing Arts

Center, and the fever’s high.

“Saturday Night Fever -- The Broadway Musical” will be staged Tuesday

through July 8 at Segerstrom Hall, starring Blake as Tony Manero and

Jeanine Meyers as Stephanie Mangano.

Robert Stigwood produced the stage version and Nan Knighton adapted it

from the film. Seventies hits including “Stayin’ Alive,” “How Deep is

Your Love?” and “Jive Talkin” still propel the action, and the Bee Gees

created two new numbers -- “Immortality” and “First & Last” for the show.

Blake, who also performed in the Broadway run of the show, says it’s a

cleaned-up version of Travolta’s 1977 flick.

“For the family audience,” he said. “You can put a rating on a movie,

but it’s very rare that you find a rating on a Broadway show. We took the

violence a bit out, the sexual nature, drugs and, of course, the

language.”

But the grit’s been retained, Blake reassured. The story is still

dark, about a Brooklyn guy named Tony wanting to make something of his

life in Manhattan, falling in love and dancing his way through.

“It’s a demanding role,” he said. “I spend about nine minutes off

stage in the entire thing.”

The stage version has more dancing than the original -- more big lifts

and intricate sequences.

Meyers, who played Stephanie briefly on Broadway, said her favorite

dance is between her and Tony after they’ve first met in the dance

studio.

“They put it all together, and they wind up in this position where

they’re very close to each other,” she said.

Both leads agree, the ‘70s was a fun time -- and a wild and sexy one

too.

“It was right after the Vietnam war, right after we pulled our troops

out,” Blake said. “Tension was released, people were having more fun and

the whole time period was really based so strongly on the music. I think

that’s something people try and hold onto.”

Meyers’ favorite ‘70s souvenir is the fashion. The slight flares, the

straight hair, the hip-hugging jeans.

“I don’t want to see the men walking around in those freakin’

polyester suits, but the women -- they looked good,” she said.

And with the retro-craze still strong, now’s a good time to boogie,

according to Meyers.

“Anytime’s a good time to Saturday Night Fever,” she said.

FYI

WHAT: “Saturday Night Fever -- The Broadway Musical”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2

and 8 p.m. Sundays through July 8. There is an additional performance

scheduled for 8 p.m. July 2 and no show July 4 or at 8 p.m. July 8.

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

COST: $28.50-$62.50

CALL: (714) 740-7878