ARIZONA BROADWAY THEATRE: ‘THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL’
Reviewed Sept. 7. Continues through Sunday, Sept. 29. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. Starting at $65 including dinner, $45 show only (subject to demand pricing). 623-7768400, azbroadwaytheatre.com. where that plot point is headed.)
But despite his lame catchphrase — “Holy ham sammitches!” — there’s something affecting about Vargas’ guileless charm when his character bumps into Pippi, a stripper on the run from her jealous exboyfriend.
“I’m a dancer, period, not a dancer with benefits,” she scolds her doughy, middleage client at the Kitty Litter Show Palace.
“I don’t care about your health insurance,” Garstecki replies, oblivious to the sexual tension — although not for long.
The ensuing love triangle provides “Trailer Park Musical” with most of its flimsy plot, while Pippi’s Magic Marker-sniffing ex fills in the rest. Featuring a Southern-rock score with such titles as “Flushed Down the Pipes” and “Road Kill,” this is a far cry from Sondheim, but it’s pretty darn funny, groaner puns and all.
Playing the pole-dancing Pippi is Lynzee Jaye Paul 4man, who, despite her quadruply precious stage name, creates a surprisingly nuanced portrait of an inexperienced but strong-willed young woman who leads with her heart instead of her head. She also belts convincingly in her soulful solos.
Arizona Broadway newcomer Molly Tower makes an auspicious debut as Jeannie. Considering the goofball lyrics — “Just like clothes from Walmart / Our love is falling apart” — this actress might be taking her straightwoman role a bit too literally, but there’s no denying the appeal of her sincere portrayal and her pure soprano.
No question it’s the actors, under the direction of Kurtis W. Overby, who sell this material. Justin Jutras is brilliantly low-key in the overthe-top role of jealous boyfriend Duke, while the trailer-park chorus of Kathi Osborne, Carolyn McPhee and Trisha Hart Ditsworth carries an outsize share of the comedic load, particularly in the “Sally Jesse Raphael”inspired “Great American TV Show” and the inexplicable disco of “Storm’s A-Brewin’.”
Considering the predictable plot, derivative tunes and unapologetically lowbrow humor, this cast delivers a surprisingly satisfying punch.