Plot aside, show's vocalists spread cheer

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 28, 2004 by Phil Grecian Capital-Journal

"Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular," which opened Friday at Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy was, um . . . well, you can't really say it was written by Ted Swindley, who committed the same process to create the first "Honky Tonk Angels" as well as "Always --- Patsy Cline."

Let us say that, like Johnny Cash's Welfare Cadillac, "Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular" was jerry-rig assembled. This sequel assumes you saw the original "Honky Tonk Angels," and, accordingly, doesn't bother to explain what has come before. The plot, such as it is, contains bits and pieces of blue-collar iconography, Grand Ol' Opry props (Minnie Pearl's hat turns up), and every redneck cliche that ever existed: TV psychics, doublewides, beer, pickup trucks, chewing tobacco, prison, beer, the WWF, shotguns, flannel shirts, hunting and beer. Oh, and beer.

There's an abundance of tired catch phrases: "Y'all come back now, y'hear?", "She sees dead people," yadda, yadda, yadda. You will find the plot weaker than church coffee, thinner than a chorus girl's negligee.

Ignore the plot. The plot's not the point. The point is four of the best voices in northeast Kansas --- Teri Walton, Patti Van Slyke, Cecilia Yager and Laura Cluke --- singing Nashville-style Christmas music, seasoned with a soupcon of blues and Motown.

Walton, Van Slyke and Yager played the same roles in the first "Honky Tonk Angels" show when it was staged a few years back at Civic, and Cluke has joined the trio to add some soul to the twang.

The band, upstage behind a scrim curtain, features Robb Baker on guitar and Joe Kampsen on piano. You don't get better than this.

There are nearly 40 songs. Standout numbers include Yager's tear- up-the-joint "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" and "Coat of Many Colors"; Cluke with Ronnettes arrangements of "White Christmas"; Walton channeling James Brown for "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (Santa Claus' bag. Get it?); and Van Slyke's torchy "Santa Bring My Baby Back Home," which threatens to stop the show.

Director Shannon Reilly has very wisely excised "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" from the score. What a lovely Christmas gift. Reilly's wife, Alex, has choreographed, and it is difficult to see where the seams are between direction and dance. Very nice.

The plot is thin, the sound system doesn't do the voices justice (Robb Baker sings an offstage piece with lyrics that are too muddied to follow) and the set, although lovely, doesn't fit this show.

Doesn't matter. To hear these women sing will flood you with gratitude and Christmas spirit.

Phil Grecian is a published playwright from Topeka whose work is performed internationally.

He may be reached

at PGrecian@aol.com.