By Gracey Murphy
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What the hell am I watching? That’s what I kept asking myself while watching Iowa City Community Theater’s Psycho Beach Party on Sunday.
This manic-infested play is set in the sunny ’60s. The opening scene allured the audience with bright beach images and groovy music. After the audience was settled in, we finally met Chicklet.

Chicklet (Isabel Cody) is one intense character. She began the play by captivating the audience with her eagerness to surf and upbeat personality but revealed her complexity through split personalities.

Cody played a magnificent Chicklet. Her personas were distinct and compelling; I truly believed her in every one.

The rest of the cast did an outstanding job, too. All cast members embodied the peculiarities of their characters. The many subplots introduced depth and hilarity to the play.

The budding relationship between surfer bums Yo-Yo (Gabriel Basile) and Provoloney (Pete Baldwin) was a particularly witty subplot. Their chemistry added an unexpected happiness to this play.

All the actors connected to one another in this play. Through romance and friendship, I found myself enduring the hardships each character faced. Chicklet’s friendship with Berdine (Heather Johnson) reminded me of my first best friend. They were practically inseparable.

So many emotions flooded me during this play. One minute I was laughing, then I’d cry. Director Louis Doerge really adapted this play as his own. Though it contains heavy drama, he focused more on the comedic aspects.

Music cues made this production flow. Fun surfer music flooded the audience with beachy vibes. Just listening to the ’60s music made me want to pack up my things and head to the ocean. Even the musician acted out the scenes. His facial expressions fit every moment; he had no real character but played the part anyway.

Adding overly dramatic costumes made things even wackier. Polka-dot bikinis and enormous wigs made the show hysterical. The vintage outfits incorporated even more amusement.

The lack of props made it easy to focus on the zaniness.

The final scene, while still laughable, contained real insight. The audience had a sad realization and learned who they truly are.

This show exuded the most remarkable components: drama, love, comedy, friendship. This show entertained me but also disclosed that what’s on the surface may not always be reality.

THEATER
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 2 p.m. Nov. 1
Where: Johnson County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall A, 4261 Oak Crest Hill,
Tickets: $9-$17