What’s in a name?
By Casey Gillis on Oct. 18, 2007
Don’t let the name scare you.
“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” is about more than, well, the best little whorehouse in Texas, says Pam Nowell, who is directing Renaissance Theatre’s production of it.
“The show itself is about loss, relationships, love, care, bonding, music and enjoyment,” she says. “Don’t let the name fool ya. It’s a very endearing show that’s a lot of fun.”
The musical — which opens at 8 p.m. Oct. 26 — tells the story of the real-life Chicken Ranch, the Texas brothel that operated from the 1840s to 1973, when it was shut down.
In the play, the Chicken Ranch operates just outside the fictional hamlet of Gilbert, under the ownership of former prostitute Miss Mona. It’s frequented by many of the town’s prominent citizens — including the state senator, who has a tradition of bringing the Texas A&M Aggies football team in after a win.
But Miss Mona’s business is put in jeopardy when conservative television reporter Melvin P. Thorpe shows up, camera crew in tow, to do an expose on the Chicken Ranch.
“He’s a cross between a TV evangelist and a ‘60 Minutes’ reporter,” says Nowell’s husband Tom. “He goes on all these different crusades, and this is his latest.”
The flash point comes when the Aggies win their latest game and head off to the bordello just as Thorpe is arriving to shoot more of his story.
“It has political overtones because the sheriff of the county leaves Mona alone, and Mona keeps the business from (causing) trouble,” Tom Nowell says. “That comes to a head as the reporter tries to make trouble.”
After the negative coverage, all the townspeople who have been ignoring the Chicken Ranch, its inhabitants and customers for years speak out against it.
Suddenly, “they’re super righteous,” Tom Nowell says.
He says one of the show’s funniest numbers is when the townspeople confront the governor.
“He does a little sidestep and doesn’t answer the question.”
The show, with music and lyrics by former Sweet Briar College student Carol Hall, originally debuted on Broadway in 1978 at the 46th Street Theatre and ran for 1,584 performances. A film version, starring Dolly Parton as Miss Mona and Burt Reynolds as the sheriff, was released in 1982.
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
WHEN: 8 p.m. Oct. 26, 27, Nov. 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10; 3 p.m. Nov. 11
WHERE: Renaissance Theatre, 1022 Commerce St.
TICKETS: $14 for adults and $12 for students, seniors 60 and older and groups of 10 or more
INFO: (434) 845-4427 or http://www.renaissancetheatre.info
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