By Julie Stern

BRIDGEPORT — In 1962, the songwriting team of Burt Bachrach and Hal David began collaborating with singer Dionne Warwick on what would be a run of 20 Top 40 hits in ten years, including seven which reached the Top Ten:  “Anyone Who Had A Heart,” “Walk on By,” “I Say A Little Prayer,”  “Close To You,”  “Do You Know The Way to San Jose,”  “This Girl’s In Love With You” and “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again.”

If these songs resonate in your memory — or if you start to smile when you hear “Promises, Promises,”  “Twenty-Four Hours From Tulsa,” “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Alfie” o r “What The World Needs Now” — you should really enjoy Back To Bacharach And David, a tribute to Bachrach and David now on stage at Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret Theater.

Billed as “a sweet sleek svelte retrospective!” the revue features four talented singers and a fine instrumental group, producing a sweet smooth pop sound that is diametrically opposite to the rock and roll sound with which it shared the decade. This is movie music, or the stuff of television specials, with shimmering, glittering costumes and multiple wigs.

The music is definitely easy to listen to, enhanced by Hugh Hallinan’s lighting and J. Branson’s scenic design which involved slides of modern paintings projected against a Mondrian style background.

Lesley Neilson Bowman’s costumes are terrific, capturing the look of the Seventies with wonderful colors and patterns. Best of all is the instrumental background, especially Ryan Storms on the flugelhorn, whose pure and haunting sound made it clear just how rich Bachrach’s melodies are.

(Performances of Back To Bacharach and David¸ a production conceived by Steve Gunderson and Kathy Najimy, continue at Downtown Cabaret Theatre weekends until August 5. Shows are every Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 5:30 and 8:30, and Sunday at 5:30.

Tickets are $28 and $30 apiece, with senior discounts for 5:30 performances and $15 rush rickets available one hour prior to curtain. Call 203-576-1636 for reservations or additional information.)