By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
Honky Tonk Laundry opened on Friday night, Oct. 14, in the Mesquite Community Theatre. Regrettably it started its run a week later than planned because of illness among the cast members. But it was surely worth the wait.
A two-person play is very hard to pull off, even for the most talented professionals. The first thing needed is a good script, and they chose well with Roger Bean’s work.
The country music appeals to most people in this region anyway. The set designed and made by Mike Johnston was perfect. It felt like we were in a very old small-town laundry.
Everything was in place and now it was up to the two actors to hold our attention for two hours. And that they did!
Lana Mae, played by Wende Wolfe-Kilinger, is a southern gal that tried, but could not make it in the Nashville scene. She is home managing the family laundry business and a cheating husband.
Kilinger with her big-hair wig looks the part. The southern style one-liners keep the audience laughing.
In walks the nervous Katie played by Joy Craig. She is wearing a red stained blouse.
The bonding of the two women begins while waiting for the blouse to dry. The first act flies by while Lana May tries to figure out and help poor Katie and her man troubles.
There is a lot of singing country style going on. Neither actor is a singer per se, but they each managed the songs much better then I was expecting. The fact that they are not professional singers worked in their favor in this case. It was more believable with two small ladies in a laundry belting out occasionally imperfect notes. It made them even more endearing.
Joy Craig brings joy to everyone whenever she is on stage. She plays all her parts to the hilt. It is hard to pick a favorite with her but I couldn’t stop laughing at “Cleopatra, Queen of Denial.”
Kilinger does a terrific job on Tammy Wynette songs and her southern style axioms, keeping the audience alert not to miss her jokes.
In the second act the Laundry becomes a Honk-Tonk bar complete with dressed to wow, with want-to-be entertainers. It’s a hoot.
There was not a packed house like usual on opening night. But there is still another week-end to enjoy this entertaining, glad-you-came, visit to the Honky Tonk Laundry.
Honky Tonk Laundry will show again on Friday October 21 at 7 PM and Saturday October 22 at 7 PM. Get tickets on line at www.MCTNV.com or at the box office one hour before showtime. They can also be purchased at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery.
