Bermuda has talent, says musical director

There is an abundance of theatrical talent among the young people of Bermuda.

That is the professional opinion of Daniel Jackson international musical ­director of Gilbert and Sullivan’s upcoming production — The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Jackson has worked in this role in some of the most successful stage shows in the world including the international version of Chicago, Jerry Springer the Musical and The Nutcracker. He has had the opportunity to work with some of the best stage performers but said he was struck by the young talent on the island.

“When I came to the auditions I was very excited about it,” explained Mr. Jackson. “We are working with people with less experience so sometimes there’s an element of teaching as well as directing. But the Society is attracting a lot of younger members which is really good news for the future of theatre in Bermuda.”

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which opens at City Hall on October 6, is directed by Jenny Sawyer whose credits include numerous West End musicals such as West Side Story at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre and Fiddler on the Roof at Camelot at the Apollo ­Victoria.

Written by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and based on a true story, the musical tells of a modest little Texas brothel known as the Chicken Ranch — it got its name during the ­depression when customers could pay for services with poultry. The former prostitute who runs the brothel, Miss Mona Stangley, finds herself and her establishment in hot water when reporter Melvin Thorpe goes on air with a new watchdog programme called Nemesis. The programme is committed to exposing social and commercial abuse and Thorpe calls on the sheriff to shut the whorehouse down.

Special relationships

Miss Mona has plenty of “special relationships” with politicians, businessmen and other men in high places who she can call on to help her save the Chicken Ranch.

Originally a Broadway show, it was made into a film starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds in 1982.

There are some 27 local actors, singers and dancers as well as a band made up of two guitars, a bass, drums and a violin in the local production.

Mr. Jackson describes the country and western style songs as upbeat and catchy.

“Some of the big songs include The Bus From Amarillo which is a beautiful song that finishes the show. Other great songs are 20 Fans and The Aggies Song when all the footballers are going to the whorehouse, also the watchdog song — Texas Has a Whorehouse In It.

“Many of the songs are more commercial country and western as it’s set in the 70s. The music is just great fun and energetic. A lot of them grow on you there are plenty of catchy tunes.

“It’s a fun evening as well as singing there’s a lot of dancing as well. It’s very colourful and funny and has a lot of heart.”

While many people might be put off by the racy sounding title of the (PG) show, Mr. Jackson says that while it can be a little “bawdy “ at times there is nothing that will shock and audience in this day and age.

“I think a lot of people might wonder what all the fuss was about,” he said. “It was on Broadway in America in the 1970s so there’s nothing that scandalous about it.

“It tells a powerful story about a group of women who find themselves, for whatever reason, needing to be working as prostitutes. It deals with real people and situations. While it is funny there is an underlying feeling that they are in a desperate situation and when they are investigated by the reporter it all goes wrong for them but never for the men. There are men who have made money from them and exploited them and have gained political capital out of it but it’s the women who pay the price for it. This is how it happened in real life.”

The cast includes Nancy Thompson as Ms Mona, Dr. Philip Jones as the reporter Melvin Thorpe and town crier Ed Christopher will play the sheriff. Rising star Rowan Vickers also feature in the play. On top of that Mr. Jackson says there is a “fantastic chorus of women — we have 12 women who play the girls in the whorehouse.”

“We have been overwhelmed by the talent of the people on the island — it’s very exciting,” he added.