Photos by Cody Soper
Production dates July 12-September 7, 2024.
Howdy, pardner! Welcome to the ol’ wild, wild, west . . . well, sort of. The Great American Melodrama’s current version of gunslingers, saloon floozies, and town sheriffs now gracing its stage in Oceano is a might . . . different.
Gunsmokin’ isn’t High Noon or My Darling Clementine or (thank goodness) Gunsmoke. It’s way too funny—no, make that downright hilarious—and you’ll leave the show laughing at the hijinks its characters get up to in Rooster Punch, California (you won’t have to wait long to find out the origin of the town’s name).
Sure, the sheriff is one tough cookie (but she’s a she). And sure, the gunslinger in black who rides into town is evil incarnate (except he exhibits quite a fondness for cruciferous vegetables). And sure, the floozies do a lot of floozie-ing (well, maybe that’s not so different).
In a wonderful, witty way this show is one of the best the Melodrama has staged since the pandemic. Opening night was packed, and for good reason. For many, many reasons, Gunsmokin’ deserves a full house every night of its run. It’s that good.
A good show starts with good writing and, this being a melodrama, with good musical parodies as well as a good set-up for audience rapport. Jordan Richardson has produced a way-better-than-good script for the Melodrama’s creative team to run with. And director John Keating, who also serves as the Melodrama’s artistic director, deserves a shiny gold star and the title of honorary sheriff of Rooster Punch for his work with this outstanding cast.
The resourceful Jeffrey Laughrun as the tale’s narrator and lovestruck deputy sheriff, the splendid Austen Horne as the she-riff in a man’s world, and the always steady Noah Esquivel (taking on two roles) provide solid performances around which the other, equally adept, actors revolve. They include Jill Price (whose flair for comedic song is amply on display), Annaliese Chambers (whose many useful talents include, as she demonstrates here, doing the splits), Nicholas Houchin (whose animated face rivals Jim Carrey’s in versatility), and Brett Mollard (whose aptitude for farce is clear as Rooster Punch’s unctuous Mayor Maynot).
There’s another integral role here as well, which (although off to one side of the stage) is equally prominent in the success of an ensemble show like this. Musical director Andy Hudson, with excellent timing and a twinkle in his eye, provides perfect piano (and sometimes verbal) accompaniment throughout. Sometimes the only prompt you need to begin laughing is his tickling of the opening notes to one of the show’s many song parodies, from “If I Could Turn Back Time” to “You Light Up My Life;” from “Bad Moon Rising” to “Baby Got Back;” from “Gunslinger” (“Goldfinger”) to “Party Like It’s 1899” (you can guess the original of that one).
Excellent scenic design by Jacob Brown, sound design by Jordan Richardson and Eric Hoit, and props by Natasha D’Amico all work to support Gunsmokin’ in its quest to hit every opportunity for a laugh (watch for the brief appearance of a “No animals were hurt in the making of this play” sign).
Costume and wig design by Renee Van Niel (love the she-riff’s culottes), lighting design by Cody Soper, and choreography by Rhett Guter, Casiena Raether and John Keating are ingenious in support of the actors and their songs.
The same “production posse” is responsible—and worthy of the same high praise—for the vaudeville revue that follows Gunsmokin’.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, directed by Eric Hoit, continues with song parodies, fun costumes, and outrageous skits.
Take a ride with the cast on Thrift Air and discover “Fifty Ways to Lose Your Luggage.” Take a ride on the “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” and enjoy finger-snapping tunes from the 1940s. Take a ride on the “18 Wheels on a Big Rig” in a sing-along with the men’s quartet (the visuals are as entertaining as the lyrics). And that’s not all . . .
An evening that includes Gunsmokin’ and Planes, Trains and Automobiles is The Great American Melodrama at its best. Bring the family, bring your friends. You don’t want to miss this one.