Theater Review: The Great American Trailer Park Musical

by Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” we are told growing up. How we frequently forget to do that. I’m guilty of it. Though in this case it’s: “Don’t judge an audience by its location. I went to go see the delightful production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical in downtown McKinney at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. For those of you who have never gone, this quaint downtown has a lovely theatre in the old courthouse building. Because of the “quaintness” and because the show premiered on a Wednesday afternoon, the audience was mainly comprised of sweet, senior citizen ladies. “Oh, no,” I thought to myself, “this is a bit of off-colored show, I wonder how many people are going to walk out or not come back after intermission?” No one left. In fact the show received a ½ standing ovation. McKinney, for all its sleepy town appearances, is hip!

I was unfamiliar with the show. I knew of it, but I didn’t know much about it. Suffice to say, leave the kiddos at home. It is blue. Lot’s of F-bombs in this one. It’s also very funny. And while the performances were uneven – some chewed up the scenery while others did competent jobs - it is a show worth seeing.

The plot is remarkably similar to Oedipus Rex minus the eye-gouging scene. I never thought the story of this famous Greek tragedy could be adapted to the stage into a musical about white trash living in a trailer park, but if you think about it the story of Oedipus is quite sleazy: The son goes missing, to later criminally murder his father and marry his mother. In this version he doesn’t actually kill the father, though an attempt is made, and he does come perilously close to getting it on with his mother. The three ladies of the trailer park that help narrate, make commentary and move the story along are a definite Greek chorus, though much more sassy with their fabulous wig changes. For those of you who read me regularly I’ve been complaining about bad wigs in shows lately, here’s a show chock full of them and they are done to great effect. I’m not anti-wig, I’m just anti-bad wigs.

Doreen Barnard plays the lead chorus leader Betty. She is dynamic and pretty much wipes everyone off the stage with her comic timing. She can shoot a look that causes ripples of laughter. As she takes on different personas to move the plot along her transformation is complete and guffaw inducing. Her sketch comedy and improv skills come to full force. She also has a sassy singing voice. She is a powerhouse on heels.

Dave Howard, who is the sleazoid husband, never reached the depths of sleaziness I would have liked to see. This said, he has a musical theatre voice that is stupendous. Though not the physical type to play Tony in West Side Story, his is the kind of voice that could carry those melodies. In this show he looks the part, but his voice is almost too beautiful for the likes of Norbert, his character. Nonetheless, my ears were in ecstasy whenever he sang.

The swing Carolyn Kimmel played the role of Lin – short for Linoleum, the name given to her by her mom since she was born on a linoleum floor. She confidently stepped in the role normally played by Maryanne Piccolo and never missed a beat.

The production values of this show were wonderful. The set is a visual hoot as is the costuming. Director and Choreographer Steven Smeltzer milked every visual gag possible and created a staging that can transmute from location to location (this is a touring show). Even the “canned” musical track worked here. The performers frequently had to start their songs a capella then the “music” joined in. They were on pitch and on key every time which proved what a set of pro’s they all were.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical will not go down as one of the best musicals ever written. This said, it is a fun adult show that gives you its money’s worth. It’s pure escapist theatre, which frequently is needed.

Oh, I bought the mug. For those of you who know me, I only buy a show souvenir when I really like a show. I had a cup of all-bran cereal this morning and smiled as I thought back on this show and hummed one of it’s funny lyrics: “Make like a nail, and press-on.”

The show runs until May 25 and you can purchase tickets online or by calling 214-544-4630.