The Beverly Hillbillies:
the Musical
Book by David Rogers and Amanda Rogers
Music and Lyrics by Gregg Opelka
Directed by David Perkovich
at Theatre at the Center, Munster, IN (map)
thru Aug 10 | tickets: $40-$44 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
Read review
‘Hillbillies’ is harmless enough, but hopefully not a trend
Theatre at the Center presents
The Beverly Hillbillies: The Musical
Review by John Olson
“The Beverly Hillbillies” was no critical darling during its nine-year run on network TV in the 1960s, but this musical based on it should win new respect for the sitcom about the Clampett family who strikes oil on their Ozark homestead and moves to Beverly Hills with their newfound wealth. It shows that achieving just the right level of corny wit – writing jokes that could make one laugh and groan at the same time – wasn’t as easy as it may have looked. Its writer/producer Paul Henning had that gift and used it to build a franchise that also spawned the spinoffs “Petticoat Junction” and “Green Acres“. This musical, with a book by the late David Rogers and his daughter Amanda Rogers has only echoes of that humor. And if not that, what else is there?
The Rogers’s book recalls the musical comedies of the 1920’s – similarities to the Marx Brothers’ “Cocoanuts” come to mind. Characters run around a mansion, stopping frequently for musical numbers that have little to do with advancing the plot. After a few early scenes in the Ozarks when the Clampetts sell their land and decide to move west, the action of this musical mostly takes place in the main room of the family’s Beverly Hills mansion – in an elaborate and realistic set by Ann N. Davis. It’s not long before a bunch of folks learn of these gullible country folk and come to their door to try for a piece of their wealth. Mrs. Pennyweather who seeks to marry her effete son Percy to Elly Mae, a trio of voluptuous young women vie for the rich and hunky Jethro, and most significantly, there’s a pair of grifters who seek to extort $5 million from Jed after entrapping him with some compromising photos. No one’s ever in serious jeopardy, but as the plot plays itself out, lots of doors are opened and slammed, misunderstandings occur, and everyone gets their turn for a comedy number or two.
In lesser hands, it could be excruciating, but Theatre at the Center has pulled together such a strong cast that the two hours of playing time are fairly diverting. In creating a Jed that acknowledges Buddy Ebsen’s original without copying it, James Harms give Jed more heart than we saw on TV. Kelly Anne Clark does a good turn as Granny – the part so memorably played on TV by Irene Ryan. The grifters are played with panache by the venerable Bernie Yvon and Colette Todd, who has fun with “Rita Always Gets Her Man,” a sultry comedy number with more than a little resemblance to Damn Yankees’s “Whatever Lola Wants.” Summer Naomi Smart is fine, but does nothing unexpected, as Elly May. John Stemberg looks enough like Max Baer as Jethro, but uses just one goofy expression and pose throughout the show. That gets old pretty quick, and as I recall from past performances, Baer actually has more acting tricks than that in his bag. Tina Gluschenko does a pretty good Jane Hathway – and even gets a song in which she resents being just Mr. Drysdale’s “Girl Friday.” Norm Boucher doesn’t attempt to imitate Raymond Bailey of the series, but he makes an equally greedy and duplicitous banker, while Jill Sesso is suitably haughty as his snobby wife.
The Beverly Hillbillies: the Musical is harmless enough, but the trip down to Munster to see it isn’t a must. And let’s hope it doesn’t start a trend of setting old sitcoms to music. Otherwise we might be seeing The Addams Family: the Musical in a theater near you. Oh wait…
Rating: ★★½
The Beverly Hillbillies: The Musical continues through August 10th at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN (map), with performances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays 2:30pm. Tickets are $40-$44, and are available by phone (219-836-3255) or online through Tickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More info at TheatreAtTheCenter.com. (Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Michael Brosilow
artists
cast
Summer Naomi Smart (Elly May), Kelly Anne Clark (Granny), James Harms (Jed Clampett), Jake Mahler (Mr. Brewster), John Stemberg (Jethro Bodine), Missy Aguilar (Cousin Pearl, Gloria Mundy), Norm Boucher (Milburn Drysdale), Holly Stauder (Margaret Drysdale), Tina Gluschenko (Mrs. Pennyweather), Patrick Tierney (Percy Pennyweather), Victoria Blade (Fredericka Collins), Rebecca Bradford (Ashley, Dance Captain), Colette Todd (Emaline Fetty), Jill Sesso (Tallulah Swanson), Patrfick Martin (Mr. Oglethorpe), Julie Baird (Mrs. Oglethorpe), Bernie Yvon (Col. Gaylord Foxhall), David Sajewich (Det. Lt. Frank Richards).
orchestra
William Underwood (conductor, keyboards), Harold Morrison (percussion), Deb Johnson (bass), Anthony Parsons (woodwinds), David Saenger (guitar), Alison Tatum (violin)
behind the scenes
David Perkovich (director), Gregg Opelka (composer, lyricist, arranger), Nicole Miller (choreography), William Underwood (music director, conductor) Ann N. Davis (scenic design, production manager, technical director), Brenda Winstead (costume design), Denise Karczewski (lighting design), Barry G. Funderburg (sound design), Jessie Howe (props design), Kevin Barthel (wig design), Matthew McMullen (stage manager), Frank J. Paul (asst. stage manager), Dellie Page (production assistant), Rachel Anderson (wardrobe supervisor), Louis Garcia (sound board operator), Geoffrey Lowe, Jennifer Lowe, Jameson Cooper, Anthony Parsons (orchestration editing), Jameson Copper (additional orchestrations), William Pullinsi (artistic director), Michael Brosilow (photos)
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