Encore Michigan

Great American Trailer Park Musical hauls big yucks at Mason Street Warehouse

Review August 13, 2016 Sue Merrell

SAUGATUCK, Mich. – “Make like a nail and press on!”

That line from the final song in the The Great American Trailer Park Musical pretty well summarizes the latest show at Mason Street Warehouse in Saugatuck. The puns are beyond outrageous; references to dollar store luxuries such as press-on nails and squeeze-cheese snacks run rampant; and yet these crazy characters have a defiant, plucky determination that’s almost admirable.

This is the second time I’ve seen this over-the-top comedy at Mason Street. The first was a decade ago when the David Nehls/Betsy Kelso musical was fresh from its Off-Broadway debut. Mason Street’s trailer park set has grown in 10 years to four full-size trailers, two with slide-out interiors. For Friday’s sold-out opener, the musical performances were even more soaring than I remembered and the corny jokes and situations just as funny as the first time.

Welcome to Armadillo Acres in Starke, Fla., where a trio of gossipy, sun-bathing neighbors narrate the story of toll-booth worker Norbert and his agoraphobic wife Jeannie, who hasn’t left their trailer since their son was kidnapped 20 years ago. Enter Pippi, an exotic dancer hiding from her trigger happy boy friend Duke, and, as the musical says, “It Doesn’t Take a Genius” to predict that Norbert is going to stray.

Director Kurt Stamm has created several ridiculously funny scenes. Jeannie dreams that their story ends up on one of those tell-all TV shows and the dream segment turns into a slow-motion, chair-throwing brawl with the characters mouthing forbidden words that have been bleeped. When Jeannie laments that her life has been “Flushed Down the Pipes,” the trio parades around with glittery toilet bowl brush microphones. Act I culminates in an ‘80s disco number , “Storm’s a Brewin’,” with flashy costumes and gargantuan wigs for a full-blown hair-icane.

The talent in this production is mind-boggling. All five of the female cast members have at least one roof-raising solo to show off their pipes. Alyssa Malgeri is hilarious as the ditzy Pickles who imagines she’s pregnant. She also plays Pippi’s fast talking, flan-selling friend Tina. Mary Mossberg commands the stage as the trailer park manager Betty and host of the TV talk show. West Michigan native Ellie Frances returns from cabaret performances in New York to nail the role of Lin who’s trying to save her death row hubby from the electric chair by getting her friends to use up as much electricity as possible. Elliott Litherland does a good job as the marker-sniffing cowpoke, Duke.

Payton Reilly portrays Pippi as tough on the outside, tender inside, and does a great job of creating a sympathetic character. But it’s Jeannie and Norbert who really steal our hearts. Jeannie, sung by Amanda Ryan Paige, has a sweet, endearing quality in her voice. Chris Blisset is wonderfully cast as Nobert. While the women all have soaring solos, Blisset’s voice is more the ordinary Joe appropriate for his character. He sings well enough, but not with the power and punch of an operatic tenor, which would completely destroy his character’s vulnerability.

Although the show is overflowing with silly, campy comedy, it has its serious moments too. When Jeannie and Norbert sing “Owner of My Heart,” it is as convincing a love ballad as any romantic duo. Equally convincing is the love triangle song, “But He’s Mine/It’s Never Easy,” between Pippi, Norbert and Jeannie. These heart-touching moments make the characters real and raise the show above rude trailer-trash bashing.

Music Director Jamie Reed leads a resounding four-piece combo at the edge of the trailer park. Designer Jeremy Barnett’s set is amazing with the interiors of two of the trailers smoothly rolling in and out as needed and a collection of advertisements creating the roadside feeling. The “Armadillo Acres” sign was dark and hard to read, but that’s a small complaint. The costumes designed by Amanda Vander Byl and Darlene Veenstra were perfect for the characters, especially in creating the television host and the disco. I don’t know who deserves credit for the wild collection of wigs but they were wonderful additions.

Even if you have seen “The Great Trailer Park Musical” before, put the Mason Street production on your list. It just might make trailer parks great again!

Click here for show days, times and details to buy tickets.