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Colorful 'Trailer Park' hits high notes

By Judith Cookis Rubens

You might be a redneck if you laughed out loud at the campy treat that is "The Great American Trailer Park Musical." Or you might be a discerning theater patron, simply won over by the huge talent and rockin' tunes that are on display in this Farmers Alley Theatre revival.
Either way, you're likely to leave in a good mood.
The Kalamazoo theater assembled a hit last year with "Trailer Park," a 2005 off-Broadway creation, and director Laurel Scheidt reunites nearly the entire original cast for a look at life in Armadillo Acres, northern Florida's most disturbed trailer park.
Front and center is (what else?) a love triangle. Mismatched high school sweethearts Norbert and Jeannie Garstecki (the football star and the math-lete) are approaching their 20-year anniversary, but things aren't so rosy in their double wide. Agoraphobic Jeannie (Whitney Wade) hasn't stepped off the couple's porch since 1983, when, while out getting the world's worst perm, her baby son is kidnapped. The tragedy still haunts the couple, who are becoming distant strangers.
Enter new neighbor, Pippi (Amanda Martin), a stripper on the run, who develops a thing for lovable schmuck Norbert. Just as it seems Jeannie might conquer her fear and step outside, Norbert cheats on her with Pippi.
OK, so the plot is probably less creative than a Jerry Springer episode, and its hokey, whiplash-inducing ending is worse than one of Jeannie's favorite Lifetime movies. But this production has more than a few moments of brilliance. Its musical talent elevates these cartoonish characters into people you actually root for and care about.
Much of the credit goes to Wade, whose powerhouse vocals and broad comedic timing perfectly fleshes out Jeannie's pain and fear. She's equally at home with the country ballads of loss as the more angry, rockabilly numbers. "Owner of My Heart" is one of her stand-outs. Adam Weiner plays up Norbert's nice guy loyalties, and we can't quite hate him, even though he's a cheat.
Sure, this show has its requisite mullet jokes, crude references to sex and incest ("We don't marry our cousins – at least, not without a pre-nup"), and nods to trailer park culture. And those one-liners do get laughs. But a whole show of those wouldn't be that funny. Thankfully, those jokes are more like filler for the strong musical numbers (created off-Broadway with music/lyrics by David Nehls; Betsy Kelso penned the book). Farmers Alley had the smarts to tap high-energy performers and dazzle us with tight choreography and musical direction.
A big supporting player is Jon Reeves' flamingo pink-and-teal trailer park set, highlighting quirky details like a flower-covered outdoor toilet and his/her fly swatters. A top-notch, four-person band, which gives this production much of its power, is organically screened off in a side yard.
The show's tunes include country ballads, rock, disco, blues – just enough variety to keep things moving.
Oddly, some of the best numbers aren't the cast-heavy openers and closers. The real good stuff appears closer to the end of the first act. Besides Jeannie and Norbert's tortured love song, "Owner of My Heart," there's a cheeky dig at daytime talk shows in "The Great American TV Show." The disco-inspired "Storm's a Brewin'" is just plain fun.
We can't forget to mention the show's hard-working girl chorus – Betty, Lin and Pickles – who help narrate and easily become other side characters (everyone from beer-guzzling strip club patrons to, yes, dancing roadkill). The trio appears in almost every number and even gets a few solo moments. Cast newcomer Nikki Scheidt threatens to steal the show as Pickles, the dim-witted teen who suffers from hysterical pregnancies and plenty of attitude. Scheidt's brief turn as a food court worker at The Flan Stand leaves us wanting more. Cece Weeks' Lin is a wise-cracking riot, pining over (and yet cursing) her man on Death Row. Gina-Maria Chimner adds strong vocals as Betty, Jeannie's friend and landlady.
As bad girl stripper Amanda, Martin croons (and moves) with the best of them, making us feel for Pippi, even though she's stealing our heroine's man. She's a great foil for Jeannie and the pair has a wonderfully choreographed slow-motion brawl near the end. Even Joe Dely gets praise for fleshing out Duke, Pippi's magic marker-sniffing, mostly cartoonish ex.
If there ever was a show where props helped, it's this one. Prop mistress Jeri Price gets into the fun with hilarious touches like a bedazzled toilet plunger in the inventive, love-gone-wrong ballad, "Flushed Down the Pipes." The white trash wigs don't disappoint either.
Overall, "Trailer Park" is pure escapist fun that will make you laugh. Just don't be surprised if you end up feeling a little something too.

REVIEW:
'The Great American Trailer Park Musical'
Farmers Alley Theatre, 221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo. Thursday-Sunday through Aug. 8, plus Wednesday July 28 & Aug. 4. $23-$25. 269-343-2727 or http://www.farmersalleytheatre.com

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