Small, old, pink and green trailers, tackily festooned with Christmas lights and television antennae, dwell permanently underneath a collection of signs that proclaim such attractions as “Florida Souvenir Land,” “Happy Hooker Bait & Tackle,” and “Blue Ball Day, Sat. Sept. 5.” Web folding chairs by pool steps await bathers at Armadillo Acres. It is 2003 in this trailer park in Starke, Northern Florida.
Three bleached blondes, frowsy and hot, all poor and one PG (or is she?) scoot into their seats and collar themselves with tinfoil solar reflectors. Thanks to scenic designer Ian Wallace, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, San Diego Repertory Theatre’s current production, is funny and engaging before anyone says a word or sings a note.It gets even better. The trio of middle-aged girlfriends sings David Nehls’ witty, smart score with a gleeful gusto that carries through the final scene. The backstage quartet of local professional musicians rocks the house, and Betsy Kelso’s clever, on the ball book rallies an eclectic ensemble. Meet Linoleum (Leigh Scarritt), born on a kitchen floor; Pickles (Kailey O’Donnell), perpetually pregnant in a hysterical way; and Betty (Melinda Gilb), a perfect caricature of a trailer park matron.
Linoleum’s man is on death row, escaping the chair only because of the capricious nature of the area’s electricity. Pickles’ mister is a traveling dinner theatre actor. The only man about the place is Norbert (David Kirk Grant), a toll collector married to Jeannie (Courtney Corey), her high school’s prettiest geometry student (Put that in a yearbook today!). That was before their only child was kidnapped on an innocuous outing. Nowadays, Jeannie is agoraphobic, so caged inside the couple’s knick-knack stuffed trailer that Norbert cannot coax her past the doorway, even with the lure of Ice Capades tickets for their upcoming 20th anniversary date.
Never mind, for Pippi (Jill Van Velzer), a sexy stripper showing off the Disney character’s brilliant locks (sans pigtails) and adventurous spirit, is on the run from her mad, magic-marker-sniffing boyfriend, Duke (David McBean), and needs some attention beyond what she receives from the regulars at the Litter Box Show Palace down the street. Norbert finds her irresistible, and the resident community is all agog over the scandal.
Aghast and titillated, and sometimes joined by the two illicit lovers, they sing their stories and sentiments in tuneful numbers ranging from the wacky “It Doesn’t Take a Genius” to the hilarious “Flushed Down the Pipes” to the wacky “Road Kill” to the tender “Owner of My Heart.”
Alina Bokovikova’s madcap costumes, Lonnie Alcaraz’ bold lighting, and Tom Jones’ gutsy sound design all blast out the storyline’s imaginative melodrama with fast paced humor and cleverly interpreted invention. Javier Velasco’s zippy choreography is simply delightful.
Thanks to the enthusiastic tempo of this production, sharply set and astutely maintained by director Sam Woodhouse, the music and the story carry the day in the arms and on the voices of a deftly capable cast. These characters deserve a break and may not get it. Nevertheless, surprises abound. In the end, one cannot help but care about these people, wacky as they are,
The lyrics of the final number, “Make Like a Nail and Press On,” pay tribute to a sub culture of America that is too often brushed aside. Call them white trailer trash, if you will, but these folks could also be salt of the earth, testaments to the endurance and value of friendship and community in a turbulent time. Taking it seriously need not spoil the fun, for this is one entertaining show.
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” plays on the San Diego Repertory Theatre’s Lyceum Stage in Horton Plaza through December 4.
Performances are: Thurs through Sat. at 8 p.m.; Sun at 2 p.m. Some performances on selected Sun., Tues, Weds.
Tickets are $37 to $57, with $18 Student Discount and discounts for groups, seniors and military.
Recommended for ages 14 and up.
Reservations: www.sdrep.org or (619) 544 1000.
