For every one of us who decries reality television and confrontational, lowest-common-denominator tabloid talk shows as the scourge of our culture, there are a dozen advocates. Jerry Springer still has no trouble filling his audience both in person and in living rooms and, yes, trailer parks across America. Why? Well, for some, it's a chance to feel superior...to point at the poor slobs on the screen and say, "I'm better than you. Now say something ignorant to amuse me..." It's all too easy to point out the self-identification and secret empathies of the viewer, but not so easy to just admit - "I like it. So what?"
But live theater is already reserved for the intellectual elite, right? In the strata of the "importance" of Theatre (with an "re"), with Drama being King - Comedy, the Queen and Musicals, The Jack (Musical Comedy being the Joker, of course) does a musical comedy about trailer park denizens rate a 3 of Clubs or is it relegated to the Uno deck?
More Teeth had never attended a performance at the much ballyhooed Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston, so we were curious to see both the show and this venue which seems to churn out so much product under the aegis of Russ Maitland. 'The Great American Trailer Park Musical' had potential to be a train wreck. Our research on the production turned up a few "official" sites and we knew we were in for loud, brassy and tasteless. So far so good, but the music sounded like 'Little Shop' rejects to us and a pop-based score usually comes across as a muddy mess at the mercy of a poor sound mix, untalented band or less than capable cast. We were prepared for any combo of the three when we made our way past URI and hit the Courthouse for the first time.
Shotgunnin' a 'Stone - 'Trailer Park' has it all...
This will most likely be one of More Teeth's shortest, least verbose reviews ever, because, frankly, there's not much to say about this production of 'Trailer Park Musical' than - go see it. We felt alternately dumber and smarter for having had the experience and pleasantly surprised at being taken so off guard.
Courthouse is easy to find...a jog down the road on 138 West past URI and situated in a beautiful old building with ample parking. The first thought was, "well, there's half the battle - nice building, good parking" The playing space itself is upstairs in a dance studio - type room turned blackbox theater. But the set transformed us into the heart of redneck paradise. Michael Sgrignari's trailer park was beautifully crafted with a full-on rig whose side wheeled offstage to reveal the velvet-Elvis joy of the interior. The orchestra was set atop the trailer and the cast makes several trips up above providing both different levels and a place for "away" - whether real or imagined. The only weak link in the set was the 2nd trailer-cum-strip club piece. The effect was more magic show than strip club and the pole dance piece appeared in danger of snapping off and impaling Pippi at one point, but this is minor compared to the overall effect of the set, which is simply gross and glorious, as it should be.
Poly-hyphenated Director Russ Maitland has gathered a stellar cast, most of which seem to come from "away." After seeing Theatre by the Sea fail to come up with a cast for 'Chorus Line' that can deliver the goods at, one assumes, a higher pay scale, Maitland must have either called in some favors or simply attracted the right folks at the right time and place. This is a true ensemble, with special mention to the Greek chorus of Betty (Jill D. Jones), Pickles (Alexa Shanahan) and Lin(oleum) (Janine Weisman). All three, especially Shanahan, manage several frantic personas over the course of the show, all while staying true to the inner core of their main character. All of which are simply hilarious.
Scott Morency directs a tight orchestra which manages to not overpower the cast even with a full electric sound in such a small space. Sound Designer Travis Green balances amplification with natural voice in all the right places where many would have chosen to keep mics cranked up for the entire show. As for the music itself, it does need to be heard live and in context to be appreciated. A video clip on the Courthouse websitegives a sneak preview of the song "The Buck Stops Here" sung by Elyse Tirrell's stripper, Pippi (and Pippi is a stripper - no apologetic 'exotic dancers' in this show...). Out of context, with a seemingly frightened Morency accompanying her in a TV studio, we have no idea that Tirrell will actually perform this song scantily clad while gyrating on the abovementioned stripper's pole. A weak song on paper - a showstopper in context. (Even Morency needs his theatrical context - he opens the evening with an almost un-ironic interpretation of "Sweet Home Alabama" that makes you wonder if he'll do more...)
'Trailer Park' is self-referential, wickedly intelligent idiocy delivered by a talented, well-rehearsed cast. And they even manage to knock back several brews over the course of the show (Keystone Light, so the impact is diminished, but still...). Of all the immense talent that Angela Foley, perhaps the strongest performer here, displays, her managing to shotgun a can of 'Stone mid-sentence without skipping a beat in her dialogue is worth the price of admission alone. Her heart-rending, endearing performance as the agora/arachna - phobic Jeannie, gives this show its heart.
It's a fearless cast - not afraid to drink, strip, swear, look ridiculous and fall down trying, all while hitting the right notes. And those notes are full of tight harmonies and vocal gymnastics. We often felt like any given song was going to turn into a Meatloaf number, but that's appropriate. "Bat Out of Hell" was the original 'Great American Trailer Park Musical' and Courthouse is proudly carrying on the tradition. Grab your wife or your cousin - or both if they're the same person, and head on down to Kingston. You'll be slightly ashamed, but glad, you did.
'The Great American Trailer Park Musical' runs at Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston, RI June 4th through June 19th. Tickets are $27 full price ($24 Seniors / $18 Students, so fake a student ID if you can.)
Available online at www.courthousearts.org or by calling 401-782-1018.
