A country brothel in rural Texas may not seem like the best fodder for a musical. But anyone who has seen the stage or film productions of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" knows it's the stuff of legend.
Based on the true story of the Chicken Ranch that once operated in LaGrange, "Whorehouse" is a romping, upbeat and colorful homage to Texas culture, in all its glory and infamy. The story is set in the 1970s when Miss Mona Stangley is the proprietor of the Chicken Ranch, a brothel that has operated peacefully for decades. Miss Mona takes care of her girls and maintains a good relationship with the community and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd. But when a camera loving investigative reporter exposes the Chicken Ranch on TV, all heck breaks loose.
The musical written by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson originally appeared on Broadway in June 1978. It ran for more than 1,500 performances and won two Tony Awards. The much-lauded film version starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds was released in 1982. It received several Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Fans of the film who haven't seen the stage version before will miss a couple songs that appeared there but will be happy to have a few others in their place, particularly Bus from Amarillo and Girl, You're a Woman. Michelle Dejean is elegant and sassy as Miss Mona, with a voice that carries the music of composer Carol Hall beautifully. Another scene stealer is Tamara Siler as the Chicken Ranch's mama hen Jewel, who sings a great version of 24 Hours of Lovin'.
The show runs through June 17. Click here for more info and tickets.
