"Whether you’ve seen the musical, the movie or neither one, you’re going to love the TGAM twist on this Victor Hugo classic. Why sit for three hours when we can pare down this epic show to 80 minutes with way more comedy plus give you a vaudeville revue too! With song parodies and tons of laughs you’re bound to leave the theater with a whole new “take” on this classic story."

--americanmelodrama.com

The latest performance at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, “The Fox on the Fairway” comes from a prolific playwright, Ken Ludwig. Writer of the Tony nominated “Lend Me A Tenor” in 1989 and best musical Tony winner, “Crazy For You” in 1992, Ludwig pays tribute to the old English farces from the 1920s and 30, with “The Fox on the Fairway.”

Featuring a very maniacal cast of six and deftly directed by Eric Hoit, “The Fox on the Fairway” is a funny and well-written comedy. There are terrific and very funny lines throughout the play as well as some physical mayhem throughout.

“The Fox on the Fairway” tells the story of Bingham, the director of the Quail Valley Country Club. There is a big inter-club tournament coming up and Bingham feels he has a great chance at finally winning against his nemesis from the opposing country club, Dickie.

Bingham is played by longtime Melodrama vet Billy Breed, and he is funny as the desperate club director. D.J. Canaday is hilarious as the showy Dickie, who has several personal ties to Bingham. His wardrobe, dug up by costume designer Renee Van Niel, takes on a life of its own with some of the loudest and outrageous sweaters since “The Bill Cosby Show.”

The two make a large bet before Bingham finds out his ringer has traded sides and now plays for Dickie.

Bingham finds a new player, his brand new assistant Justin, played by Philip David Black. Justin is in love with the club’s Tap Room waitress, Louise (Bethany Rowe), and proposes. Aiding Bingham is the club vice-president Pamela (Crystal Davidson). She has a few secrets to tell that eventually surface.

Rounding out the cast is Jacqueline Hildebrand as Muriel, Bingham’s crazed and overbearing wife. In a short-cropped wig and mannish mannerisms, Hildebrand is hysterical as an unhinged bully in a pint-sized package.

Everyone in the cast has secrets, which are slowly revealed throughout the action as everyone involved tries to finish the tournament and straighten out all of their predicaments.

Black is outstanding as the neurotic Justin and Rowe is extremely funny as the emotionally unstable fiancee Louise. And Rowe is outstanding, especially in the physical moments.

The set design by Brian Williams is nicely laid out, allowing for all of the physical chaos that ensues.

There are several physical moments that are fun and wacky throughout and they are well choreographed by the director Hoit, a former artistic director at the Melodrama.

The final scene of the play, recapping the story, is simply brilliant and hysterical.

The vaudeville review that follows is called “A Starry, Starry Night Vaudeville Review,” and was conceived and directed as a team with Canaday, Artistic Director Nova Cunningham, Alex Sheets and musical director Sarah Wussow. It features a pair of actors not in the main play, Sheets and Bethany Edlund.

The review takes a look at the stars in the skies as well as stars on the stage and screen. There are several funny moments from each of the cast members with some celebrity impressions and nice musical moments. And who won’t like a group performance with kazoos?

Overall, the evening was entertaining and satisfying with talented performers getting a chance to shine.


-- Brad Memberto (Santa Maria Times, Feb. 1st, 2013)