The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas
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THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS - RSAMD New Athenaeum Theatre, 17-22 September, 2007
The Theatre Guild committee were delighted to present The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas as our 2007 production. Based on the life and times of the real "Chicken Ranch" and made famous by the 1982 movie starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds this fun, tongue-in-cheek musical was brimming with energetic dance routines, rousing chorus numbers and beautiful ballads. The 'bawdy' title didn't put our audience off as the club sold 82% of the available seats! Feedback was universally positive with the show achieving a '5 STAR' rating on review website www.uktheatre.net. Cast members will fondly remember a very happy show featuring revealing costumes, outrageous characters and "Peanut Delight" candy bars! This was the show where Stage Manager, Tess Byrne, regularly called for "The Ladies of the Ranch" and younger members of the backstage crew didn't know where to look!
THE HISTORY
The best bordello in Texas dated back to 1915, when Jessie Williams purchased an old farmhouse on 12 acres on the border of La Grange, where it existed in harmony with the law and local citizens for nearly 50 years. During the Depression, the girls traded services for farm goods and livestock. So many chickens were received that hen houses were set up for poultry and egg production - hence the name Chicken Ranch. In 1960 Edna Milton purchased the property from Miss Jessie's estate and did a first-class remodelling job. It was under Miss Edna's direction that the house of prostitution reached its greatest fame. In 1973 Marvin Zindler, a Houston TV newsman, mounted a campaign to close the Chicken Ranch. Jim Flournoy, former Texas Ranger and country sheriff since 1946, cited charitable work, saved marriages, and local acceptance and refused to close it. Zindler directed his TV attack on the Governor, who called Sheriff Jim. He in turn placed the call that quietly ended the Chicken Ranch's 58-year history.
THE STORY
This happy-go-lucky view of small-town vice and state-wide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. The rural community of Gilbert has long tolerated, secretly relished, and certainly patronised Miss Mona's cosy homelike bordello. Governors, senators, mayors, and even victorious college football teams-sponsored by an alumnus-frequented the Chicken Ranch until that puritan nemesis Watchdog focused his television cameras and righteous indignation on the institution.
Shy and Amber arrive at Chicken Ranch knowing full well what goes on there. They've been used, had hard luck, and are lonely. They confide to Miss Mona that they have never done anything professional but plead for the chance to get some money together for a fresh start. Mona is taken with their honesty, hires them on, and sees to their training. She can use the extra help for the upcoming Texas Aggies/ Longhorn football-game party. The alumni associates of each school traditionally treat the winners of the annual rivalry to a night of frolicking at the Ranch. Some important political and business leaders are involved, too. (Miss Mona always has the right people to call on for advice).
Things are pretty much as they have been for 58 years-until Melvin P. Thorpe, a Houston TV reporter and do-gooder, sets out to spoil everybody's fun. His Watchdog exposés do little to prompt Sheriff Dodd to close the Chicken Ranch. In fact, when Melvin visits the Ranch, Sheriff Dodd runs him off. It seems there is a romantic interest between the sheriff and Mona. In retaliation, Melvin raids the Ranch with his camera crew. The surprise visit proves embarrassing for all the above. Chicken Ranch is now too public to remain open in face of the state law against prostitution. Melvin P. Thorpe wins again. The girls ponder their futures as they await the bus from Amarillo. Mona and Sheriff Dodd pause for a moment of nostalgia before locking up after the girls have gone.
Click HERE to download our Director's Brief Plot Synopsis (.pdf).
Click HERE to download our Director's Detailed Plot Synopsis (.pdf).
Song List:
Prologue - Solo Girl Singer, The Rio Grande Band
20 Fans - Mona Stangley & Ensemble
A Lil Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place - Mona Stangley, the Girls
Girl You're a Woman - Mona Stangley, Shy, Jewel, the Girls
Watch Dog Theme - Melvin P. Thorpe, Dogettes
Texas Has a Whorehouse in It - Melvin P. Thorpe, Thorpe Singers, Dogettes
Twenty-Four Hours of Lovin' - Jewel, the Girls
Watchdog Theme (reprise) - The Dogettes
Texas Has a Whorehouse in It (reprise) - Melvin P. Thorpe & Ensemble
Doatsey Mae - Doatsy Mae
Angelette March - Imogene Charlene, Angelettes
The Aggie Song - The Aggies
The Sidestep - The Governer & Ensemble
No Lies - Mona Stangley, Jewel, the Girls
Good Ole Girl - Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, the Aggies
Hard Candy Christmas - Amber, Linda Lou, Ginger, Ruby Rae, Beatrice
Hard Candy Christmas (reprise) - The Girls
Bus from Amarillo - Mona Stangley
Finale - The Company
Click HERE to download our list of Musical Numbers (.pdf).
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