Hooooo-wee! Dig out your cowboy boots and Stetson hats and head on down to Circa 21 Dinner Theatre’s current production of Honky Tonk Angels by Ted Swindley and directed by Tristan Tapscott. Tapscott has pulled out all the stops to deliver a Texas-sized, down home celebration of country music’s female icons.
The somewhat melodramatic plot is loosely that of three aspiring female singers who yearn to pursue their dreams of becoming country music stars. Angela is a Texas mom of six whose husband Bubba is an over-the-road trucker, Darlene is a shy, young gal from the deep south, and Sue Ellen is a Texas transplant in Los Angeles who is fed up with the big city and wants to return to her roots. The three meet up on the bus they are taking to Nashville and, in the course of their conversation, decide to hook up and form a trio called Honky Tonk Angels. Their act becomes a big success but despite that, after reaching the pinnacle of achievement Angela misses the kids and Bubba and Sue Ellen wants to reconnect with her small town roots so they decide to disband. Darlene stays in Nashville to try a solo career.
Is this a contrived plot? Absolutely. Does it matter? Absolutely not. Tapscott’s opening night pre-curtain comments sum it up perfectly and I’m paraphrasing here but he basically said this show won’t change the world but there is no algorithm or AI creation that can replace the magic of live theatre and, by extension, music.
This show is packed like a tin of sardines with some of the most well known country music hits which include Tammy Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man, Loretta Lyn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”
Taking on the role of the brassy, rosy-eyed Angela is one of my favorite QCA actors, the energetic Sydney Richardson. She is so enchanting that you would swear Ted Swindley wrote the part with her in mind. As the lovable Darlene is Jennifer Barnaba whose “Ode to Billy Joe” number was almost a tearjerker. Rounding out the trio as the pseudo-Dolly Parton character Sue Ellen was Hanna Marie Felver who is actually the understudy for the part which was originally cast with Marion Stenfort. Sadly, Stenfort incurred an injury during rehearsals which prevented her from performing on opening night. She will return to the stage next week. That being said Felver delivered a stunning performance as if she were the original one cast.
These Honky Tonk angels delivered absolutely heavenly harmonies that soared like the celestial host on Christmas night.
A real bonus to this show is the live band on stage which included Emmett Boedeker, Brad Hauskins, , Scott Pauley, Tom Picket and Steve Lasiter (who just happens to be Barnaba’s husband). They opened Act I with “Rocky Top” and spiced up the opening of Act II with “Trashy Woman” and “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.”
So, if you’re looking for some boot scootin’, toe tappin’ entertainment that will tempt you to sing along...this is the show for you.
Honky Tonk Angels continues at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 – 3rd Avenue in Rock Island through April 27 with matinee performances on Wednesdays, evening performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and Dinner performances on Sundays.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.