Country Roadhouse

Country Roadhouse

July 24, 2009

Musical Director: Gavin Tucker

Stage Director: Eva Moore

Cast: Allison Basha, David Bennett, Roy Berti, Bertha Collier, Steven Heisler, Trevor Hinks, Jennifer Dawson-Hobbs, Lynnette Murrin, Natasha Pitcher, Evan Smith, Ryan Tucker and Gavin Tucker

Country music star Dolly Parton is quoted as saying, "If you talk bad about country music, it's like saying bad things about my momma. Them's fightin' words."

Well, there won't be any fighting over Stephenville Theatre's production of Country Roadhouse, because there really isn't anything bad to say about the show.

The fourth of STF's musical cabarets, Country Roadhouse is an 11-person ensemble (plus host Steven Heisler) performing a variety of country-themed tunes.

Under the musical direction of Gavin Tucker, each performer had their moment in the spotlight, yet nobody really stood out from the pack. There was a great deal of talent onstage - and it was fun to see a certain amount of camaraderie building over the course of the show.

It wouldn't be possible to single out every impressive moment, but a trio of gospel tunes and a Hank Williams medley were definitely rousing highlights during the two-hour show.

Lighting worked well to keep the focus on each song's performers, and the set was cleverly arranged so those not performing during a particular song could slip into the background without any fuss. The overall sound was very good, as were costumes.

Perhaps the only tedious parts of the show were the overenthusiastic smiles and aw-shucks personas of the performers. Sure, country music can be shiny and polite, but there's also a darker edge to many of the songs and this shouldn't be overlooked.

As with the other STF cabarets, there's not much in the way of acting, so don't go to the show expecting to see thespian performances. But if you're a fan of country music and want to enjoy an evening of local entertainment, then check out Country Roadhouse. The show is scheduled to run July 29, Aug. 13 and 15.