LASSOING A HEAP OF DREAMS
Dadgumit! Where’s my slice of apple pie? I suppose I’ll have to settle for a rootin’-tootin’ good time as Skylight Theatre Company debuts its World Premiere musical comedy, BRONCO BILLY, at its Hollywood theatre venue. This sweet-natured play might as well be apple pie since it is so lick-your-fingers delicious. Once again, this Los Angeles intimate theatre hits pay dirt with a winning production!
Book writer Dennis Hackin fashions his script from the Warner Bros. unheralded 1980 movie by the same title, and this time is able to achieve some bronco bustin’ of his own in the live theatre arena. He corrals some down home cohorts for the creative team who are game for the adventure. Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres contribute the amiable music & lyrics (with additional lyrics compliments of Michele Brourman), boasting a pop sensibility along with the occasional disco beat. Musical Director Anthony Lucca leads a dynamite band of five musicians with full out commitment while utilizing the clever arrangements and orchestrations of David O. Then, Director Hunter Bird cracks the whip in harnessing the energy of a talented gang of 14 cowpokes (or “buckaroos” as the playwright allows). Likewise, the always sensational Janet Roston shapes a gold mine of choreographic gyrations guaranteed to please any mirror ball worth its salt.
And now for the yarn. Benai Boyd (“Doc”), as the ringmistress to a traveling Wild West Show, introduces us to a ragtag troupe of performers led by Eric B. Anthony (“Bronco Billy McCoy”) who has established a family of ne’er-do-wells, many of whom he met while serving a brief stint in prison, then asking them to pursue their dreams by getting in cahoots with him on his journey of hope for a better life. While thick on dreams, though, the financial rewards do not seem to be panning out.
Among the buckaroos are these dreamers. First, take a bow Michael Uribes (“Chief Big Eagle”) and his Native American wife Fatima El-Bashir (“Lorraine”), he often lacking in confidence with stilts as his specialty while she, revealing a sensitive soul and often appearing in tap shoes. Also, say hello to Randy Charleville (“Two Gun Lefty Lebow”) acting the clown, and Kyle Frattini (“Lasso Leonard James”) who handles the hemp lariot with a flair. Then, howdy also to Anthony Marciona (“Sam Lilly”, “Disco Guy” and
others) plus Bella Hicks (“Mitzi”) and Jamie Mills (“Dee Dee”) who round out the ensemble.
When all seems lost with their attempt at recalibrating their lives after an equipment failure in the show, the troupe of misfits seem ready to bury themselves in sagebrush. Billy, however, is not prepared to abandon the dream. He persuades the gang to saddle up in their ramshackle van (it is 1979, after all) and head to Hollywood to audition for a talent show and thereby save the day! Giddyup!
Along the way Billy encounters Amanda Leigh Jerry (“Antoinette”, aka “Lilly”), a runaway heiress fleeing from a cadre of despicable villains bent on doing her harm, convincing the desperate lady to join their Wild West family. Her money-grubbing husband, Chris M. Kauffmann (‘John Arlington”) along with a crooked lawyer, Marc Cardiff (“Lawyer Lipton”) and a bumbling caricature of an assassin, Pat Towne (“Sinclair St. Clair”) are all up to no good. A villainous, desirous of Antoinette’s monetary legacy, directs the
shabby deeds of the insidious, yet hapless trio of varmints. All the while, this grande dame of evil, Michelle Azar (“Constance”), employs dastardly deeds while managing to be a “hoot” as well.
The musical comedy stirs up a frenzy of silliness along the trail while permitting a pause here and there for the inevitable love stories of the Native American couple and, of course, Bronco Billy and Lilly/Antoinette. The show aims to tickle the funny bone of big kids and little ones alike.
No weak links in this cast. Eric B. Anthony makes one heckuva singing and dancing cowboy. Equally impressed with Amanda Leigh Jerry and Benai Boyd in particular. Also, no doubt that Michelle Azar handles treachery as if it reigns from within. In fact, all of these players are first-rate!
John Iacovelli’s scenery, enhanced by the projections of David Murakami, evokes a wondrous audience response for their clever versatility and Western flavor. Yee-haw! Ann Closs Farley delivers the goods with a vast array of colorful and detailed costumes. Yippee! All of the other technical elements succeed as well including the following: Brian 
Gale for lighting the prairie and the disco so stylishly, Cricket S. Myers and Daniel S. Tator for balancing the sound requirements with distinction and Kevin Williams for some novel property design work as well. Even Matt Franta deserves a pat on the back for his impressive fight choreography. Finally, the unsung efforts of the Stage Management team need to be acknowledged, too. Yes, Christopher Hoffman, Ben Altman and Garret Crouch should bask in the limelight for sure.
No horsin’ around, folks, skedaddle down to the Skylight Theatre in Hollywood before BRONCO BILLY rides into the sunset on July 21.
pc: Ed Krieger
