Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A season of successes for Wagon Wheel Theatre is winding down in a big way with Wednesday's premiere of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." Suffice it to say, the summer of 1997 is not about to end quietly, as the atmosphere promises a whirl of raucous energy and randy humor.
Any notions about the shroud of controversy were quickly dispelled, as a loyal and enthusiastic audience turned out in impressive numbers to realize that in order to truly savor the production, one must look beyond the overtures of the show's title. There are messages, some subliminal, some brazenly flaunted, throughout the show, something of which Beckie Menzie, who stars as Miss Mona Strangely, hopes the crowd will take to heart.
In an interview prior to the show's debut, Menzie offered this assessment: "This show is not about prostitution. It's about hypocrisy. (Mona) runs a very clean operation and she really cares about her girls...(the show focuses on) everyone's different perspectives and how we see things differently," Menzie said.
Her assertion is on target, and is best exemplified through her portrayal of the dignified and proud Mona. Menzie brings to life the caricature of a strong woman who has seen a great deal over the course of her life, and is not afraid to demonstrate the immense love in her heart which proves as enormous as her beloved home state of Texas.
Menzie's passion for cabaret singing is evident and maximized to the hilt in all of her featured songs in the production. She brings to her role a sense of nobility amid "the world's oldest profession," and compels the audience to believe that she genuinely revels in every emotion she serenades about.
Meanwhile, the young madams of the "chicken ranch" prove time and again that there is strength in numbers as far as the musical offerings are concerned. With fiery choreography and tight, complex harmonies, the ensemble blazes through such numbers as "No Lies," and "Twenty Four Hours of Lovin."
In the latter tune, the relatively minor role of Jewel, the housemaid played by Ashley Dearborn, Dearborn gets an entire selection to showcase an amazing sultry alto wrapped in an aura of soulful titillation, as the girls sway provocatively around her.
With this production, the men of Wagon Wheel's acting troupe are provide with the chance to charge headlong into some fantastic footwork of their own. The Texas Aggies football team, in a song that finds them readied for a victory celebration with the lady friends, somehow finagle the standard stances of the gridiron into a testosterone-laced frenzy of marvelous proportions.
Another memorable performance was turned in by guest actor James Robert Daniels, who was utterly hilarious as the well-meaning curmudgeon of a sheriff, Ed Early Dodd. His dialogue was chock full of witty one-liners and muddled metaphors that consistently kept the audience chuckling.
More ten-gallon hats are to be tipped to the stylings of Rod Thomas, who tackles the often buffoonish role of Melvin P. Thorpe, the righteous zealot who keeps his preachy tribe of disciples in tow and causes commotion wherever he goes. Also enjoyable was Dan Zakarija, in a brief turn as the Texas governor who embodies the typical politician as he "dances a little sidestep and leads the people on," a line warbled in his spotlight song appropriately titled, "The Sidestep."
It must be mentioned that this lavish production, while exceedingly humorous and unwavering in the ability to entertain, is not for the meek of manner. The script is peppered with salty dialogue, which might not be suitable for all audiences, especially the younger.
Nonetheless, the appreciation for another rousing effort from the Wagon Wheel Theatre was clearly parlayed into a positive reception by those attending Wednesday's show.
Before the cast members had completed their curtain call, the audience was on their feet clapping mightily in time to the orchestration, and the buzz continued long after the stage lights dimmed and the performers scattered away. Once again, the company has fulfilled the promise of a good night's entertainment.
The production continues through Sept. 7. For ticket information, call 267-8041.
