Town for Sale @ Ochre House Theater
-Martha Heimberg
Seeing a new play at Ochre House Theater is a little like joining a caravan of road-seasoned gypsies on storytelling night--or the closest I’ll ever get to such a magical experience. You never know what to expect, but you know you’ll see a passionate company delivering original, fully committed work. Also, I have never been bored.
Artist-in-Residence Justin Locklear’s Town for Sale, a marvelously peculiar musical romance between a small resort town and a hopeful buyer, has an especially charming carnival allure. Directed with deft comic pacing by Locklear, the play merges the reality of America’s emptying rural towns with a touch of the supernatural. Is Milk Springs, which once drew tourists to its magical healing waters, just dying, or is it already a ghost town? The story is set to Locklear’s melodious score, featuring six songs with funny, touching lyrics. That’s a lot to load into 85 minutes, but the first-rate seven-member cast, plus Gregg Prickett, the wandering guitarist, get the job done with clarity--and some tightly choreographed dance moves.
A young man (naïve, hyper-cheerful Tommy Stuart) in a natty sport coat, briefcase in hand, strolls into the dilapidated lobby of the Milk Springs Hotel to buy the “affordable” town that’s for sale, as advertised by the ensemble’s peppy song and dance number. He declares his intentions, and tells the hotel proprietor he wants a room and that he “represents a group of investors.” Pretty Grace (feisty, fretful Lauren Massey) turns him down--for a room. But other townsfolk have overheard his offer and tell him they’re thrilled “you’ve finally come, after all this time!” They call him Professor, and go on and on about how his letters over the years have inspired them to hang on and do their best to keep the town going.
Whoa. What kind of messiah mix-up is this?
Stuart’s confused yet flattered Professor soon realizes he’s fallen into a muddled case of mistaken identity, but then, hey, what if he can buy into their mistake and help himself and all these eager-to-sell folks at the same time? He smiles both sympathetically and cunningly as the ensemble sings “Dreams of Milk Springs,” revealing their individual and communal hopes. Just what is this so-called Professor’s motive? And what about this water that even puts the zing back into one man’s deflated zinger? Can the Professor control this powerful product?
The fun of the show is in the mix of emotions and folks we all recognize, but heightened to high humor, and brilliantly costumed by Samantha Rodriguez Corgan, who deserves a special Ta-da Award for the matadora’s (comically posturing Elizabeth Evans) glittering, detailed outfit. Brava! The decrepit old lady mayor (comically seductive, wistfully wise Carla Parker) and the burly old guy with finely tuned flamenco moves (a robustly virile Antonio Arrebola) are both endearing and nutty.
Omar Padilla is the swooning, almost-dashing romantic lover who suffers occasional zinger failure; for many years he’s silently longed for the arms of the town’s rhyming woman (soulful, comically country Meagan Harris). Poor girl lost her daddy and assorted brothers and cousins in the great Limestone Mine disaster. She sings her daddy’s prophetic last song, “Limestone Lullaby” with Patsy Cline sincerity.
The once-handsome hotel lobby set was designed by Ochre House Artistic Director Matthew Posey and scenic painter Isaac“IZK” Davies, to include broken tile and a crumbling architectural support beam. Where do they find such stuff? Lighting designer and videographer Scott Shaddock add shifting moods and focus to the show.
What will become of all these fascinating people?
Is there a real Professor lurking in the hotel lobby?
How about a magician?
Definitely a must-see for adventurous folks who love live theater.
WHEN: February 14-March 2, 2024
WHERE: 825 Exposition Avenue (Fair Park), Dallas
