ANDREW ECKSTONE as Provoloney, Tristan Lund as Star Cat, Tessa Sarvis as Chicklet, Luke Brodowski as Kanaka, and Ian Pedersen as Yo-Yo in “Psycho Beach Party at Goleden West College’s Mainstage Theater through Sunday (GWC photo).

By Thom deMartino/Orange County Tribune

Golden West College’s Mainstage theater is having a *crazy* beach party, and you’re invited. (And maybe “crazy” is a little insensitive, all things considered…)

Director Tom Amen and cast at Golden West College’s Mainstage Theater have brought the surfin’ 60’s back in style with their newest production, “Psycho Beach Party”.

The hip Malibu Beach of 1962 is in an uproar — the beach is awash with panicked gossip about a deranged individual who’s been catching victims unawares and leaving them completely… shaved. (But alive.) Oblivious to this is aspiring surfer girl Chicklet (Tessa Sarvis), sans surfing experience, and desperate to learn from the best: local surf guru Kanaka (Luke Brodowski).

But the big kahuna and his fellow surf bums Yo-Yo, Provoloney and Star Cat (Ian Pedersen, Andrew Eckstone and Tristan Lund, respectively) refuse to mentor the aspiring young surf rider, simply because she’s “a girl”.

Meanwhile, her philosophy-obsessed bestie Berdine (Chelsea Caracoza) just wants more time with her soulmate friend, in between indulging in the works of John-Paul Sartre or Nietzsche: and Chicklet’s overprotective and intense mother Mrs. Forrest (Carrie Vinikow) isn’t helping with her “helicopter parenting”, either.

With such heavy influences in her life, perhaps it’s not too surprising when the teen goes alone to plead her case to Kanaka and suddenly, spontaneously exhibits Dissociative Identity Disorder (or multiple personalities) – and the aggressive, sexually-driven personality Ann Bowen that overwhelms her will do what she likes to the befuddled surf king, even bending him to her will.

And though Chicklet herself may not remember her other self, Kanaka is certain to follow through with teaching the young girl to surf… at least, to see if he can somehow summon the spicy, dominating Ann Bowen back.

Throw into this mix the relationship struggles of Star Cat and his gorgeous girlfriend Marvel Ann (Emily Bolden), Yo-Yo and Provoloney’s increasingly sensitive friendship, and a beautiful Amazonian B-movie actress, Bettina Barnes (Michelle Terrill), and you have a kooky collection of characters exploring their hopes and dreams of who they truly want to be… while somewhere, the mad shaver lurks, waiting for that next opportunity to strike…

“Psycho Beach Party” is a fantastic, irreverent sendup of 1960’s cinema, particularly the surfing and psychodrama films; that being said, it’s goofy fun watching these characters and the interplay between them. There are intriguing explorations into the personalities involved, watching the stereotypes of the old films from that era spontaneously combust before your eyes, and the soundtrack of old surfing tunes in the background, as well as the sound effects of static-y televisions and channel knobs turning are a flashback for those of us who still remember analog TV, back in the day.

There are some hysterical performances, particularly the interactions of  Sarvis’ “Ann Bowen” personality and Brodowski’s Kanaka; Vinikow’s Mrs. Forrest is delightfully over the top, and Caracoza charms as the brainy best friend, dealing with her own philosophical conundrums (the actress also opens the show with an energetic solo dance at the beginning of the 90-minute production.)

A fun foray back to an almost mythical era, with a little exploration of both standard and plural personalities, “Psycho Beach Party” is an entertaining romp through the past. Check it out this final weekend… just don’t get on Ann Bowen’s bad side.

“Psycho Beach Party”, Tessa Sarvis, Luke Brodowski and Chelsea Caracoza star in this charming spoof of classic beach and suspense films. Playing through March 17 15 at the Golden West College Mainstage Theater, 15751 Gothard St., Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Tickets available through the box office at 714-895-8150, x1 or at www.gwctheater.com. Some mature content and language.