Hillbilly hilarity: Less teeth - More cartwheels. Easy targets flattened like roadkill that have nowhere to hide.
The ‘play within a play’ can be an inventive canvas, albeit, when the former has something relevant to convey that impacts the latter. Not the case here. There is nothing to be learned, revealed or pondered. It’s just a hick sitcom for hick-sake.
As the playbill states, ‘It’s an intimate look at clashing egos on and off-stage, as a cast of misfits prepare to mount the story of small-town boy’s attempt to win a cheerleader’s heart.’ The boy, being the playwright, directing his upbringing for the stage.
There was an ample house, this night, providing huge guffaws (almost annoyingly on cue) as the broad punch-lines kept coming. But between a gentle opening monologue and an equally sweet epilogue –there are few fresh moments of satire to be found.
The wacky cast includes the ‘mad as hell’ producer, the hard-drinking lesbian, the swishy/sweaty gay guy and more cartoons characters drawn from the same rubber chicken brain. All cast by a shy director struggling to tell his hard luck tale of growing up in Pabst country.
As the stage set grows more detailed, tempers flare, hearts break and contrived tragedies become piled higher than squirrel sausage patties. But, for this reviewer, after 20 minutes, the cream pie punch-lines grow tiresome and the farce settles in to fatigue mode.
The story of small town straight boy who secretly joins the pom-pom squad is such a ripe opportunity to say something brave and brazen, that one can’t help wonder why this thrice produced play hasn’t been revamped to say something new.
If only the inspired choreography that closes the show, was a staple throughout. This stand-alone moment was true cut-loose fun — free from the previous 85 minutes that repeatedly elbowed me in the ribs demanding, “Slap your knee NOW!”
7 REDNECK CHEERLEADERS
- Written by Louis Jacobs Directed by Amy French
- The Elephant Space 6322 Santa Monica Blvd
- Thurs-Fri-Sat 8pm shows through September 26
- Sun 7pm shows on Aug 3, 10, 17 and 24
Tickets $20 Call 1.323.960.4410 OR got to www.plays411.com/redneck
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