OGUNQUIT - Neil Sedaka sat down at a table in the lounge of the Five-O in Ogunquit and requested a glass of ice water, without the ice.

"Constricts the vocal chords," he said. "I never take ice in my drinks."

The silver-haired pop music icon also avoids conversations in loud rooms so he doesn't have to raise his voice, insists on eight to 10 hours of sleep each night and takes a brisk 30-minute walk every morning.

That regimen, he said, is the key his longevity in the entertainment business.

"I still have a voice, and I still love what I do," said Sedaka, 69. "I take care of myself."

Looking fit and trim, Sedaka came to Ogunquit on Tuesday night to catch the production of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," the musical based on his songs that is playing through Saturday at the Ogunquit Playhouse. At the end of the show, he joined the cast on stage for an impromptu performance of "Love Will Keep Us Together," earning the latest standing ovation in a career that began more than a half-century ago.

Afterward, he joined the cast for a reception at the Five-O on Shore Road. His appearance in Maine came at the request of the theater. The playhouse is proud of its show, and wanted Sedaka to see it.

His review? Two thumbs up.

"I loved it. I thought they did a terrific job. The music is pretty good, too," he said with a wink.

The musical continues through Saturday.