Best little show in town

Commentary

August 23, 2007

Anonymous The Hendricks County Flyer Thu Aug 23, 2007, 05:54 PM EDT

When I first heard about Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis, I was thrilled.

I’ve always enjoyed musicals and can still recall standing on my tippy-toes to put the “Wizard of Oz” disc into my parents’ Laserdisc player. I replayed that movie over and over again until I knew the script by heart. My favorite part was singing along to the music.

I rediscovered my love for musicals after graduating from college. So far I’ve seen “Rent” at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, “All Shook Up” at Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando, Fla., and “Wizard of Oz” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis.

And while all were impressive, Beef & Boards is a special place for me.

The theatre offers top entertainment and a fabulous dinner buffet.

I was familiar with the Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton movie version of “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas,” but I hadn’t seen the musical until it came to Beef & Boards. Half way through the show, I realized I had been humming right along with the tunes. Among my favorites were “20 Fans,” “A Lil’ Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place,” “Hard Candy Christmas,” and “The Aggie Song.”

The musical is based on the true story of a Texas brothel that operated from 1844 to 1973. Miss Mona Stangley, played by Grace Sell, is the proprietress of the “Chicken Ranch” — so named because customers were permitted to pay with poultry during the Depression.

Miss Mona tries to stay on good terms with Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, played by James Anthony, which keeps the Chicken Ranch in business. Yet trouble comes Mona’s way when a self-righteous television reporter tries to expose the fact that “Texas Has A Whorehouse In It.” The timing couldn’t be worse with the ranch awaiting the victory arrival of a football team. Sheriff Ed Earl does his best to keep life unchanged on the Chicken Ranch, but a call to the governor of Texas changes the lives of everyone involved.

The musical first opened on Broadway in 1978, and won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Officials at Beefs & Boards recommend this show for mature audiences who want to laugh and have a good time. There are 42 scheduled performances of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” running through Sept. 23.

Beef & Boards is at 9301 North Michigan Rd., Indianapolis. Tickets include dinner and a show with prices ranging from $32.50 to $52.50, with discounts available for groups of 20 or more. Parking is always free.

For tickets, call the box office at 872-9664 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. For more information, visit the website at www.beefandboards.com.

— Samantha L. Cooney is a reporter for the Hendricks County Flyer.

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