CORNED BEEF TRASH
The Great American Trailer Park Musical has a misleading superlative. The show mirrors A Tuna Christmas and Sordid Lives, in that it takes a humorous look at the goings-on of America’s trashy lower-middle class, yet these other shows are far superior in writing and character development. The Rep’s solid production can not hide the fact that Betsy Kelso’s simple and predictable book lacks both side-splitting humor and depth of character, and that several of David Nehls’ songs, which start out funny, eventually wear out their welcome mat (as does a certain dream sequence).
This is not as awful as it sounds, for even with the book’s setbacks limiting the Rep’s potential, the results are still entertaining. The oft-produced Trailer Park will neither receive a command performance at the White House (Tuna Christmas) nor create a cult-like following (Sordid Lives), but under the helm of Sam Woodhouse, the superlative casting and production values – combined with some truly hysterical scenes and zingers – create a general feel-good energy that left the audience visibly smiling. The so-so musical on paper becomes The Quite Enjoyable Great American Trailer Park Musical at the Lyceum.
The first star of this production is the eye-candy scenery, challenging the viewer as to where to look first. Ian Wallace designed three large, surprisingly authentic trailers that fill most of the stage, the center one affixed to a turntable so that, later, we will see into the trailer home of our protagonists, Jeannie and Norbert (Courtney Corey and David Kirk Grant). More than forty large signs for business and traffic fill much of the space behind them, the biggest one welcoming us to Armadillo Acres, a trailer park in the fictional town of Starke in Northern Florida.
The show begins in the trailer park courtyard with a trio of sunbathing residents: practical Betty (local staple Melinda Gilb), hard-edged Linoleum (ibid Leigh Scarritt), and the ditzy Pickles, brought to vivid life by newcomer Kailey O’Donnell who, at 17, holds her own with the seasoned players, beautifully wielding many of the funniest lines. In short time, we come to realize that they are more than residents; they are also our omniscient narrators for telling the real play within the play. Addressing the audience directly, they annotate trailer park life as seen through the struggling relationship of agoraphobic Jeannie, who hasn’t left the trailer since a family tragedy 20 years earlier, and her husband Norbert, who just wants a normal life again.
The trio of trash – Betty, Linoleum, and Pickles – comfortably plays minor characters in other scenes, including a strip club where Norbert runs into the sexy Armadillo Acres newcomer Pippi (Jill Van Velzer). Later, it’s off to Oklahoma where Duke, Pippi’s ex-boyfriend, finds out that she has left town (David McBean relishes his portrayal of Duke, an unusually hyper-masculine role for him).
The bold, committed cast is in excellent voice; Gilb and Corey hit notes that caused the audience to cheer; Jeannie’s “Owner of My Heart” offered a tender moment; there was a lovely overlapping of melodies with “But He’s Mine,” and the final number “Make Like a Nail and Press On!” blended so resoundingly well that it was hard to believe only seven voices were in action (musical direction by Anthony Smith). Alina Bokovikova’s lavish costumes include glamorous, sequined outfits (reminiscent of ABBA) and mischievously playful low-class get-ups for Linoleum.
The Rep does all they can to dress up this Canned Spam, offering up some tasty meat loaf. Trailer Park may not be very nourishing, but there’s nothing wrong with a greasy spoon of a musical every now and then.
photos by Daren Scott
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
San Diego REP
Lyceum Theatre
79 Horton Plaza
ends on December 4, 2011
EXTENDED to December 11, 2011
for tickets, call 619-544-1000 or visit SD REP