Laughter returns to Lucky Penny Productions
By Rosemarie Kempton
Opening night for “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” was a laughter-filled success. Much to the delight of its patrons, Lucky Penny Productions brought back this popular musical comedy for its 10th anniversary revival.
Lucky Penny co-founders Taylor Bartolucci and Barry Martin first discovered “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” when their friend Craig Miller cast Bartolucci as Pippi in a production at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa and asked Martin to direct it. Then, in 2013, they brought the production to the old Napa Valley Playhouse.
This hilarious two-act musical, created by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso, explores the relationships between the residents of Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Starke, Florida, as they deal with a Dr. Phil-loving agoraphobic, adultery, hysterical pregnancy, strippers, huffing, electric chairs, flan, roadkill, toll-collecting, spray cheese and disco.
After everyone was seated Martin welcomed the audience to “Armadillo Acres” and announced that he was pleased that five of the original seven cast members were back to perform the show again.”
“It’s a musical with a million laughs and a kickass score,” he said, “but it also offers lovable characters in a story full of genuine heart and real American tears. It’s just as much ridiculous fun as it was back then. Things have changed in 10 years. Some of the jokes in this show were politically incorrect back then, and they are more so now. But theater has been built on laughing at ourselves since the Greeks, so we venture into this territory with joy.”
Act One begins with three women socializing outside their trailers, each holding a sun reflector under her chin to tan her face. Behind them an atmosphere of authenticity is suggested with such details as a shopping cart, garbage can, assorted debris and a gnome that has seen better days.
As they talk, important information about their lives is revealed, along with their awareness of the hurtful stereotypes people have of those in their situation, and they are eager to clear up those misconceptions.
“Let’s clarify one thing, not everyone here has missing teeth,” the audience is told.
Bad Ass Betty, performed by Daniela Innocenti Beem, runs the leasing office and makes it her business to know everything about everybody who passes through the trailer park. Betty is a mother hen to park residents and is the play’s most grounded character.
Linoleum, performed by Shannon Rider, got her name because she was born on the linoleum floor. The highlights of her life are the rare conjugal visits she gets with her husband, who has been in prison and on death row for years.
Pickles, performed by Kirstin Pieschke, is a naïve 17-year-old with a hysterical pregnancy and an alternating flat and protruding belly.
Not sitting outside with the trio of women is Jeannie Garstecki, performed by Julianne Bradbury. Jeannie is secluded inside her trailer because she has been suffering from agoraphobia ever since her baby was kidnapped 20 years ago.
Jeannie’s long-suffering husband Norbert, played by Mark Bradbury, is frustrated with trying to convince his wife to get over the theft of their child and leave the trailer. He hasn’t yet given up hope that she’ll again become the woman with whom he fell in love in high school – the smartest and prettiest girl in geometry class who offered to tutor him when he was a football hero struggling with math.
Just when it looks like Norbert is making progress in getting Jeannie to step outside the trailer,
a beautiful stripper named Pippi, played by Taylor Bartolucci, moves into the park next door to Norbert and his wife. Pippi is running away from her abusive marker-sniffing addict boyfriend Duke, played by Skyler King.
The park’s residents foresee Norbert and Pippi having an affair as they sing “It Doesn’t Take a Genius.” Like a Greek chorus, the trio of women from the first scene help to guide the narrative as they keep tabs on everyone and unite against Pippi to protect Norbert and Jeannie’s marriage.
Hot on trying to find Pippi, marker-sniffing Duke finds out where she is living and heads for the trailer park. His arrival brings terror to all the residents, and their previous issues come to a head. They must unite to find solutions to their conflicts.
Though much of this musical comedy borders on slapstick, it has heart. The show’s ultimate message is about rising above our impulses, mistakes and surroundings to create a better life for the future despite the past.
The actors had multiple costume changes throughout the evening that brought back memories of fashions from yesteryear. During a segment called “The Great American TV Show” the characters wear 1970s disco clothes and big wigs. Jeannie dreams they are in a rowdy Jerry Springer-type TV show where her marriage and Norbert’s infidelity with Pippi are the focus on the show.
All of the actors are impressively talented singers and outstanding in their roles, and there are many clever surprises in “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” too. I strongly recommend it.
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” runs through June 18, with shows from Thursdays to Sundays at The Lucky Penny Community Arts Center, 1758 Industrial Way, Napa.
Shows begin at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
For tickets and more information, visit www.luckypennynapa.com
Interview with Barry Martin
In an interview the day after opening night Martin talked about “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” and shared some history about Lucky Penny Productions.
“Every one of the actors is outstanding,” Martin said. “We had a very short rehearsal period, and they were prepared and worked hard.”
“Taylor’s costumes and props are fantastic,” he said. “She worked on all that for months in advance and right up to opening night.” April George did a beautiful job with the lighting and helped me build the set.”
Together, Martin and Bartolucci have been bringing both tears and laughter to theater audiences since 2008, when they were both acting in a play at Dreamweavers. They were talking about theater all the time, and then an opportunity presented itself.
“We jumped at it and formed the company without a plan of any kind other than ‘Let’s do some plays and musicals,’” Martin said.
They founded Lucky Penny Productions in 2009. Their early performances took place in the depot of the Napa Valley Wine Train that year and a few other places until finally, in January 2015, the Lucky Penny Community Arts Center on Industrial Way became home for all their productions.
Though Martin says it has been a great ride, there have been challenging surprises.
“The pandemic was devastating for the theater world,” he said. “A number of companies have closed around the Bay Area. That was the craziest of crazy surprises.”
Despite the setback caused by closing their theater during much of the pandemic, the thespian duo never gave up on Lucky Penny.
“We hang in because there is great joy in storytelling onstage, and it’s hard to imagine giving it up,” Martin said. “I feel we created something that is valued in the community and that makes us want to keep going and do more.”
The local live-theater-loving community has recently shown its deep appreciation for their dedication to keeping theater alive in Napa.
“On April 3, 2023, we announced that we were seeking the cure to a ‘COVID hangover’ with an urgent fundraising goal of $25,000,” the Lucky Penny website says. “We shared that the effects of the pandemic have lingered, costs have gone up across the board and that we needed some help to make our way toward the new season in September.
“We are very happy to report that the response to our request has been overwhelming! More than $47,000 has been donated, nearly twice as much as we were hoping for. We are immensely grateful to each and every donor.”
Rosemarie Kempton has captured the essence of this Lucky Penny Theater production perfectly! This show is great, and I recommend seeing it before it closes. Bravo!