I have to say that I just couldn’t picture Tacoma Little Theatre staging “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” It just didn’t seem like a show the theater could pull off, or since it’s a play about a brothel, pull down might be a better description.

Anyway, I’ll eat crow on this one. TLT did a nice job. The staging courtesy of Henry Loughman was simple and effective as it showed the lobby of the Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange, Texas. The costumes, by David Jermone were, well, brothel-like without being raunchy. And to further enflame the debate about my stance on the use of orchestras versus taped music or a single piano to accompany the singers, I have to say that David Duvall did a nice job with directing his quartet of base, guitar, drums and violin from his onstage piano perch in the brothel lobby.

As I said last week, I like seeing the musicians who are playing the songs the actors are singing along to as the play progresses. Some theaters tuck the musicians along the side so the audience focuses only on the actors. That’s all fine and good, but I sort of like when the musicians are somehow incorporated into the show itself — as bartenders, band members or whatever.

The show has a Texas saloon vibe to it. Having the musicians on stage in Western barroom attire fit right in with the staging.

Now onto the show itself.

“Those who look only at the title will probably expect this to be a racy show about hookers and sex, but it actually has very little to do with that,” Duvall said. “This is really a biting satire about the power of the media and politicians willing to do anything to save their skins. One of the primary points explored in this musical is the double standard of selling sex. In America, we use sex to sell everything from cars to toothpaste to vacation destinations to school book binders.  We sell the promise of it right up to the point of actually selling it, and then we say that once you actually buy or sell it … you’re committing an illegal act. Now, that is an interesting conundrum.”

“Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” is a show that could easily go to the naughtier side of human nature, but this musical comedy is more about fun than mattress frolicking as it tells the story of the real-life Chicken Ranch as it faces the spotlight of a crusading television reporter bent on forwarding his name in the business by fighting causes to right the wrongs. Melvin P. Thorpe (played by Elliot Wiener) is a bit over the top for even a crusading journalist, but that is part of the fun of the show as he parades his evangelical Christian values and crusading morals like a snake oil salesman in search of another sale.

But he is no match for Miss Mona (Karen Carr), the brothel madam with a heart of gold and a mind for business. And her mind is firmly on business as the Texas Aggie football team, courtesy of a rich alumni member, comes to the house to party after a big win.

Nothing gets in the way of Mona and her business. Comedy ensues. The cast of leggy brothel gals and Texas businessmen and politicians round out the show.

“Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday through July 1.  Tickets are $18 to $22 and available by calling 253.272.2281 or by visiting: www.tacomalittletheatre.com. The stage is located at 210 North I St.



Steve Dunkelberger has covered the South Sound theater scene for 13 years.  He can be reached here or at his virtual voice mail at 320.216.5007.