So I survived. And I only got bitch-slapped once by the director. It was great!!!
Seriously, though - it wound up to be a stellar show, with a little added skin at the last performance (email me for details) - and no, it wasn't by me.
Now I'll be playing the Queen of Hearts in a musical adaptation of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Groovy - or not. Let's see if I still like Children's Theater.
I was so bored today at work that I pulled off all of my fake fingernails from the show. Ouch. Blood. It was amazingly painful.
My mind is on overdrive still. Forgive me if I'm making absolutely no sense whatsoever. But then again - I'm a Hepworth.
Michael is moving here in 2 weeks. Yay!! Let's hope I get this apartment.
I got my settlement check from accident #2 in the mail today. Double yay!!! I'm goin' drankin, bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Review of Whorehouse
"Head on Down to Best Little Whorehouse"
by Nick Rogers
Those who like their musicals on top will find plenty to whoop about in the Springfield Theatre Centre's production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas".
Director Bill Bauser Jr.'s fast-paced show has a heart as big as its production numbers and larger-than-life characters. It's equally good at comic exaggeration and heartbreaking realism.
The quirky charm is turned on early in this tale of the Chicken Ranch, where, as it's said, guests enjoy a small thrill from time to time, but there's nothing dirty going on. Doubling as bandleader and narrator, Mary Myers opens the show with a thick-twanged delivery of the bordello's history.
As ts most recent manager, Miss Mona Stangley, Lori Ann Fahnders combines tender, matronly affection for her girls, her own vulnerability and a distinct my-way-or-the-highway attitude. "Don't let your mouth overlad your capabilities" is one of many gems in a script referring to women't periods as "the curse"and dubbing the Ranch a place where history and football players get made.
Mona's soft spot has to do with the protection she gets from well-meaning, ill-tempered Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Rich McCoy), whom she's long loved in secret. McCoy is alternately hangdog and hyper and convincing as both, especially when getting Yosemite Sam-style mad and cursing a blue streat at Melvin P. Thorpe (Michael Murphy), a moralist crusader trying to shut the Ranch down.
Only a missing bag of confetti doesn't scream Rip Taylor about Murphy's hilarious work. Wearing a flourescent-green suit even Prince would reject, Murphy saved one big band-chorus tempo discrepancy Friday night just with weird dancing.
The show is filled with even more colorful characters, all wonderfully played. As Jewel, Miss Mona's sassy right-hand woman, Kim Hepworth brings down the house with "24 Hours of Lovin'". Steve Williams disappears into four characters, most memorably insurance salesman C.J. Scruggs, for whom the word "sheriff" becomes "Sher-rough" in his Forrest Gump-style mouth. In a moment that slows down to focus on the Ranch's importance to Gilbert, Texas, Laurie McCoy sings a wistful ballad.
Even the least-characterized ladies of the Chicken Ranch get a moment to shine in the great "Hard Candy Christmas". The same goes for the male ensemble, whether they're acting as horny college football players or right-wing conservatives.
Behind-the-scenes work is also exceptional with Elizabeth Cheney's cute but complicated choreography, T. David Parker's clean set design, and costumes - or the occasional lack thereof - from Phyllis Maynerich and Suellen Troxell.
by Nick Rogers
Those who like their musicals on top will find plenty to whoop about in the Springfield Theatre Centre's production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas".
Director Bill Bauser Jr.'s fast-paced show has a heart as big as its production numbers and larger-than-life characters. It's equally good at comic exaggeration and heartbreaking realism.
The quirky charm is turned on early in this tale of the Chicken Ranch, where, as it's said, guests enjoy a small thrill from time to time, but there's nothing dirty going on. Doubling as bandleader and narrator, Mary Myers opens the show with a thick-twanged delivery of the bordello's history.
As ts most recent manager, Miss Mona Stangley, Lori Ann Fahnders combines tender, matronly affection for her girls, her own vulnerability and a distinct my-way-or-the-highway attitude. "Don't let your mouth overlad your capabilities" is one of many gems in a script referring to women't periods as "the curse"and dubbing the Ranch a place where history and football players get made.
Mona's soft spot has to do with the protection she gets from well-meaning, ill-tempered Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Rich McCoy), whom she's long loved in secret. McCoy is alternately hangdog and hyper and convincing as both, especially when getting Yosemite Sam-style mad and cursing a blue streat at Melvin P. Thorpe (Michael Murphy), a moralist crusader trying to shut the Ranch down.
Only a missing bag of confetti doesn't scream Rip Taylor about Murphy's hilarious work. Wearing a flourescent-green suit even Prince would reject, Murphy saved one big band-chorus tempo discrepancy Friday night just with weird dancing.
The show is filled with even more colorful characters, all wonderfully played. As Jewel, Miss Mona's sassy right-hand woman, Kim Hepworth brings down the house with "24 Hours of Lovin'". Steve Williams disappears into four characters, most memorably insurance salesman C.J. Scruggs, for whom the word "sheriff" becomes "Sher-rough" in his Forrest Gump-style mouth. In a moment that slows down to focus on the Ranch's importance to Gilbert, Texas, Laurie McCoy sings a wistful ballad.
Even the least-characterized ladies of the Chicken Ranch get a moment to shine in the great "Hard Candy Christmas". The same goes for the male ensemble, whether they're acting as horny college football players or right-wing conservatives.
Behind-the-scenes work is also exceptional with Elizabeth Cheney's cute but complicated choreography, T. David Parker's clean set design, and costumes - or the occasional lack thereof - from Phyllis Maynerich and Suellen Troxell.
Friday, January 13, 2006
It's the Day of the Show, Y'all
Ok...so this is a mini-post...I'm horribly nervous about the opening of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" tonight at Springfield Theatre Centre. Anyone who can offer any advice, please let me know.
Last night, Dr. Zoom (http://drastrozoom.blogspot.com) and Mrs. Zoom did a great job of calming my nerves - so I think it'll all be kosher. It's just like it's my re-debut in Springfield, and we all know how catty thespians can be :)
You're Captain Tenneal! GET IT ON! You are a person
who has a nack for the opposite sex, and you
don't mind telling people when they're wrong
and you're right.
Which MXC Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Last night, Dr. Zoom (http://drastrozoom.blogspot.com) and Mrs. Zoom did a great job of calming my nerves - so I think it'll all be kosher. It's just like it's my re-debut in Springfield, and we all know how catty thespians can be :)
You're Captain Tenneal! GET IT ON! You are a person
who has a nack for the opposite sex, and you
don't mind telling people when they're wrong
and you're right.
Which MXC Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Friday, January 06, 2006
Shameless Plug...
The Springfield Theatre Centre kicks off 2006 with the award-winning true story
about hypocritical politicians, half-naked showgirls, and governors who rule by public opinion.
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is based on the true story of a legendary Texas Brothel known as the Chicken Ranch, which operated from the 1840's to 1973 when it was finally shut down by the efforts of a crusading Houston radio commentator and his conservative audience.
The musical, the book by Larry L. King & Peter Masterson, and Lyrics and Music by Carol Hall, begins during the last days of the Chicken Ranch (which earned its name because, during the depression, customers were allowed to pay with poultry!). Melvin P. Thorpe (played by Michael Murphy), a television broadcaster eager for the spotlight, has just scored a career triumph by exposing a peanut bar for not having as many peanuts as advertised. And now he turns his attention to what is potentially a much bigger triumph - this appalling thing he calls "loveless copulation" at the Chicken Ranch. Although many of the state's politicians have, in fact, been customers of the brothel, they are eager to preserve their political careers and thus choose to publicly denounce the Chicken Ranch and its inhabitants.
Finally, in spite of the protection of the local sheriff (played by Rich McCoy), Miss Mona (played by Lori Ann Fahnders), the proprietress of the Chicken Ranch, is thrown out onto the street along with all of her girls (played by Stephanie Berch, Fran Byers, Shirene Thomas, Lisa Mayes, Ashley Warren, Amy Heuman, Grace Gietl, Nickel Hayes, Cari Keysar, and Emma Jo Schumacher), even as Melvin P. Thorpe receives a commendation from the Governor (played by Steve Williams) for his services to the state of Texas.
Also starring are Kim Hepworth as Jewel, Mary E. Myers as the Bandleader, Laurie McCoy as Doatsey Mae, and John Woodruff as Senator Wingwoah.
Rounding out the cast are Tony Cunningham, Brad Lowman, Nathan Alderman, Jacob House, Mike Martin, Craig Williams, Phillip “Teddy” Paschal, DJ Rudd, and Tom Beeve.
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is directed by STC’s Interim Artistic Director, Bill Bauser, Jr., who brought to the Springfield Theater stage the immensely popular Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and will be directing The King and I this summer at Springfield Muni Opera.
Production dates are January 13-15, and 20-22, 2006. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8:00 P.M., and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 P.M. All shows are performed at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, located at 420 South Sixth Street, in downtown Springfield. Ticket prices are $11.75, and $10.75, and may be reserved by calling 217-523-ARTS (2787)
about hypocritical politicians, half-naked showgirls, and governors who rule by public opinion.
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is based on the true story of a legendary Texas Brothel known as the Chicken Ranch, which operated from the 1840's to 1973 when it was finally shut down by the efforts of a crusading Houston radio commentator and his conservative audience.
The musical, the book by Larry L. King & Peter Masterson, and Lyrics and Music by Carol Hall, begins during the last days of the Chicken Ranch (which earned its name because, during the depression, customers were allowed to pay with poultry!). Melvin P. Thorpe (played by Michael Murphy), a television broadcaster eager for the spotlight, has just scored a career triumph by exposing a peanut bar for not having as many peanuts as advertised. And now he turns his attention to what is potentially a much bigger triumph - this appalling thing he calls "loveless copulation" at the Chicken Ranch. Although many of the state's politicians have, in fact, been customers of the brothel, they are eager to preserve their political careers and thus choose to publicly denounce the Chicken Ranch and its inhabitants.
Finally, in spite of the protection of the local sheriff (played by Rich McCoy), Miss Mona (played by Lori Ann Fahnders), the proprietress of the Chicken Ranch, is thrown out onto the street along with all of her girls (played by Stephanie Berch, Fran Byers, Shirene Thomas, Lisa Mayes, Ashley Warren, Amy Heuman, Grace Gietl, Nickel Hayes, Cari Keysar, and Emma Jo Schumacher), even as Melvin P. Thorpe receives a commendation from the Governor (played by Steve Williams) for his services to the state of Texas.
Also starring are Kim Hepworth as Jewel, Mary E. Myers as the Bandleader, Laurie McCoy as Doatsey Mae, and John Woodruff as Senator Wingwoah.
Rounding out the cast are Tony Cunningham, Brad Lowman, Nathan Alderman, Jacob House, Mike Martin, Craig Williams, Phillip “Teddy” Paschal, DJ Rudd, and Tom Beeve.
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is directed by STC’s Interim Artistic Director, Bill Bauser, Jr., who brought to the Springfield Theater stage the immensely popular Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and will be directing The King and I this summer at Springfield Muni Opera.
Production dates are January 13-15, and 20-22, 2006. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8:00 P.M., and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 P.M. All shows are performed at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, located at 420 South Sixth Street, in downtown Springfield. Ticket prices are $11.75, and $10.75, and may be reserved by calling 217-523-ARTS (2787)
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