SOMETIMES
THE
MOST
PLEASANT
THEATRICAL
experiences
come
almost
out
of
the
blue.
But
in
the
hands
of
Stage
Door
Players,
the
oft-revived
“Pump
Boys
and
Dinettes”
proves
itself
a
dynamo
of
a
production.
Virtually
plotless,
“Pump
Boys”
is
a
slice
of
Americana
set
in
the
deep
South,
taking
place
at
the
Highway
57
gas
station
and
Double
Cupp
Diner.
Sisters
Rhetta
(Marcie
Millard)
and
Prudie
(Bethany
Irby)
run
the
diner,
while
the
service
station
attendants
include
Jim
(Matt
Nitchie),
L.M.
(Mark
Schroeder),
Jackson
(Dolph
Amick)
and
Eddie
(Dan
Bauman).
Over
the
course
of
an
hour
and
a
half,
the
Cupp
sisters
and
the
gas
station
men
tell
stories
and
sing
songs
of
their
experiences.
First
performed
more
than
25
years
ago,
“Pump
Boys
and
Dinettes”
was
immensely
popular
in
its
heyday,
but
it’s
a
bit
dated
now.
Luckily,
no
one
told
that
to
openly
gay
Jeff
McKerley,
who
directs
and
choreographs
the
musical.
He
turns
what
could
be
tired
community
theater
fare
into
something
well
worth
seeing.
It
helps
that
he
cast
the
show
so
crisply.
Collectively,
his
six-person
ensemble
is
an
inspired
group.
Individually,
they
almost
all
shine.
Millard
is
especially
game,
and
this
kind
of
material
suits
her
voice
well,
especially
when
she
gets
to
incorporate
her
sly
sense
of
humor
into
her
numbers.
She
leads
a
rousing
“Be
Good
or
Be
Gone,”
detailing
her
relationship
with
a
romantic
suitor.
The
other
female
lead,
Bethany
Irby,
is
blessed
with
very
strong
vocals.
The
men,
especially
Nitchie,
are
also
quite
appealing.
Schroeder’s
big
number
details
his
near
run-in
with
Dolly
Parton.
Only
Dan
Bauman
doesn’t
get
the
chance
to
make
much
of
an
impression.
The
performers
play
their
own
instruments
onstage,
at
times
improvising,
banging
pots
and
pans
with
spoons
and
their
hands.
The
music
is
a
combination
of
country
and
blues,
with
some
solo
numbers
and
even
more
group
songs.
MCKERley’s
presence
is
felt
here
in
a
mighty
way.
The
choreography
is
inventive
and
fun
without
being
showy,
but
what
is
unexpected
is
how
adeptly
the
cast
sells
the
material.
They
believe
in
every
number.
In
a
year
full
of
disappointing
musicals,
“Pump
Boys
and
Dinettes”
goes
down
very
easily.
Every
once
in
a
while,
it’s
nice
to
sit
back
and
just
let
a
show
charm
you.
This
show
is
no-frills,
short
and
pleasant.
It
may
not
be
a
major
production,
but
it’s
a
high
point
of
the
season.
Kudos
to
McKerley
and
the
gay-run
theater
of
artistic
director
Robert
Egizio
—
for
not
taking
the
summer
off
and
delivering
this
robust
work.
Also
on
tap
this
week,
every
outsider’s
favorite
iconic
film
—
“The
Wizard
of
Oz”
—
hits
the
stage
at
the
Fox
Theatre
by
virtue
of
Theatre
of
the
Stars.
The
live-action
version
of
the
famous
tale
of
Dorothy,
Toto
and
their
trip
to
the
Emerald
City
is
directed
by
veteran
Phil
McKinley,
who
guided
Hugh
Jackman
to
a
Tony
Award
for
his
portrayal
of
Peter
Allen
in
“The
Boy
from
Oz”
on
Broadway.
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