TRAILER PARK - First Preview Report

[ruprecht]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:13pm

A friend has a connection with the people doing the marketing for "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" so I got to see the first performance tonight. Now, it seems the cast needs more time to grow into their characters, but I had a hoot. I'll spare you with the problems as I don't think it's fair to "review" a show on Day One, but I WILL tell you what I liked: Shuler Hensley, who brings a natural ease to his role, Leslie Kritzer, who has a HILARIOUS phone moment as a mall worker at a flan stand in Act Two and Orfeh, who has great chemistry with Hensley, looks gorgeous in her brunette stripper wigs and gets to show off her phenomenal pipes (and gets the show's funniest song--the "Finale" with secret lyrics to make a manicurist proud). I wish there were more funny songs and clever staging ideas, but check out the show anyway. It's definitely worth it--and will surely only get better before opening.
Updated On: 8/20/05 at 11:13 PM

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:15pm

How was Wayne "Naked guy Marty" Wilcox?

[ruprecht]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:20pm

He was okay. It's an odd role--the character's magic marker sniffing habits aren't nearly as funny as the creators seem to think. Again, I'm sure he'll grow into it. What do you mean by "naked guy Marty"?!?

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:21pm

He plays Marty on Gilmore Girls.

His character was introduced when Rory stumbled across him lying passed out nude in the hall of her dorm on her first night at Yale.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:21pm

Thanks for reporting, ruprecht! I wasn't sure if anyone would so soon. You had a hoot, yay! That makes me happy. I really want to love this show, can't explain why exactly but I just do.

Wayne Wilcox

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:31pm

I really hope this show does well.

It'd be hard for me to go to Dodger and not want to see ABz, haha. I absolutely ADORE Orfeh, so I want to come see it for that one reason, and also because it sounds HILARIOUS.

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 8/20/05 at 11:46pm

i cannot wait to see this show. Thank's for the review!

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:02am

Where is the show playing and how much are tickets?

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:06am

Dodgers Stages on W. 50th - from now till Sept. 16 you can get discount tickets for $39. After that, discount tickets are $49 from broadwaybox.com.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:09am

Someone told me tix are available from TDF.com for $28. I'm not a member so I bought tix from broadwaybox.com for $39, came out to $45.50.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:10am

Almosttxfamous:

If you adore Orfeh, you MUST get to Dodger Stages ASAP. She's in top form even if (SPOILER ALERT!!) the creators somehow forgot to give her a FULL song--the act two "But He's Mine" is gorgeous but it unnecessarily turns into a trio. Give the girl her own song! Kaitlin Hopkins, on the other hand, has one "lonely housewife in the trailer alone" solo after the next. It's overkill. I'd cut two of them as well as the intermission and let the audience out early! Just my three cents :)

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:16am

how was leslie kritzer?

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:18am

ooh! thank for reviewing i just read about this like two days ago and oh now im excited!

[ruprecht]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:19am

Like I said, Leslie's very funny (and blonde!). This will help get her name out there.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:42am

Blonde Leslie? Wow! I can't picture it! Lol.

[Amneris]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:32am

I am seeing it tomorrow night! I am so excited. Orfeh is a star =D

[ruprecht]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:22pm

Leslie is surprisingly adorable as a blonde!

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:34pm

I am not sure why I am so drawn to this musical. I'd already have tickets if the discount extended to my vacation.

As it stands, I left deciding between Trailer Park and Hairspray for my final show and I'm leaning towards Trailer Park since I can see Hairspray (albeit abbreviated) in Vegas.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 12:40pm

A couple of other questions for you if I may...

How big is the house (seating wise)?

Approx run time?

[broadway betty]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:35pm

It's at stage 1(499 seats) at the Dodger Stages. Here's the seating chart:

http://dodgerstages.com/theatres.htm

If it has an intermission, it's probably at least 2 hours. Shows that I've seen that were 1:45 didn't have an intermission.

Updated On: 8/21/05 at 01:35 PM

[ChildofDestiny]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:01pm

I was there too last night -- we got out about 10:20 I think. Maybe a little earlier. I was stuffing my face at Burritoville by about 10:30 I think.

I have to say that I think you got it dead on Ruprecht. (Love the avatar, by the way!) Orfeh looked GREAT in her long wig...and we may have heard it before, but she truly brings down the house with those pipes. I overheard some women on the elevator complimenting her voice and saying that she reminded them of Jerry Hall. (I see it - it's all about glamour and lips!)

The trio of trailer park ladies get the really fun stuff in the show and all three are fantastic. Wayne Wilcox also gives it his all. He's really got the crazy-eye thing down. lol.

Shuler is so reminiscent of John Goodman in his Dan Conner days that it's perfect! (Possible star casting for the Vegas version??) The set is also crazy-cool and the production overall was in really good shape for the first perf.

While I loved Kaitlin Hopkins in Bare and Bat Boy, the agorophobia plotline kind of ties her to the trailer (heh) and makes her numbers kind of blur together a little bit in this. You're right, Rup, that maybe giving that one song just to Orfeh would break it up a little. (I'd also venture to say one more could be cut, but don't kill me Kaitlin fans! Also, CUT THAT STUPID T-SHIRT SHE WEARS THE WHOLE SHOW. I didn't get the joke and it was distracting.)

Overall, I think I wanted the relationship between Orfeh/Shuler to be explained a little more. You don't really get to see why they are drawn to each other -- it just kind of happens. Does he just think she's really hot? Does he want to help her hide? Does she choose him? Is it just right place/right time? Maybe she should do her strip number directly to him. Who knows. Now I'm rambling, but I see such potential here! I'd like to hear what other people think as they see it.

[Patronus]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 8:05pm

Thanks for the update, Emcee!

Also, thanks for the wonderful reviews guys!

[ChildofDestiny]

Posted: 8/21/05 at 9:53pm

I think I may have conjured Orfeh with my post! She just showed up on Law and Order: Criminal Intent as the wife of a murder victim. A great dramatic turn. Did anyone else catch it?

[Al Dente]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 12:56am

I'm just about to settle in with Tivo and do just that.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 11:18am

John Goodman as Norbert would be brilliant stunt casting!