FIRE ISLAND - The Fire Island Pines Arts Project's (FIPAP) Labor Day weekend show, the first theatrical production in the spanking new gem of a theater, the Brandon Fradd, at Whyte Hall, was composer and lyricist Carol Hall and book writers Larry L. King and Peter Masterson's colorful "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," about what happens when a sanctimonious television personality crusades for the closing of a brothel. And, with a fine company guided by music director Brian Allan Hobbs and director and choreographer DJ Salisbury, FIPAP had a bona fide, rip snortin', hootin' and hollerin' hit on its hands, with exceptional voices, top drawer dancing, more than a bit of sentiment, and, with some plot tweaking, not a little beefcake. An impressive two-story set, suggesting rooms with louvered doors, its levels connected by a spiral staircase, with the six-piece band behind it, was designed by Glen Wielgus and lit by Kevin Lewis. Evocative costumes came from Gateway Playhouse in Bellport, from Costume World, and from cast members. Michael Savino and Steven Alan Black were the producers.

... visit the gallery by Bruce-Michael Gelbert & Joseph R. Saporito


The Chicken Ranch in LaGrange, Texas, so named because poultry was accepted for payment during the Depression, had existed peacefully for almost 130 years, from about the time Texas gained statehood, before television zealot Marvin Zindler, who died this summer, successfully crusaded for its closing in 1973. The play's Mona Stangley is modeled on Edna Milton, its proprietor, who took part in the original Broadway production of "Whorehouse," which opened on June 19, 1978 and ran until March 27, 1982, racking up 1,584 performances and winning Tony Awards for its female and male leads, Carlin Glynn and Henderson Forsythe. The 1982 movie, with Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds, added a romantic Hollywood ending, absent in the stage play.

Nicole LaFountaine played Miss Mona here as an elegant lady who runs an orderly house, in Gilbert, Texas, according to strict rules, but with heart. She displayed one of the most vibrant voices in the cast, along with that of Anastacia McClesky as brothel housekeeper, Jewel, and they paired up for upbeat duets "Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" and "No Lies," about how the business is run. La Fountaine's Mona encouraged a new addition to her brood with a sweet, gentle "Girl You're a Woman" and, shorn of her establishment, faced the future with wistful bravery in "Bus from Amarillo." McClesky stopped the show with her dazzling vocalism in gospel-cum-rock number "Twenty-Four Hours of Lovin'," as she anticipated a hot date on her day off.

Ron Martin made a dashing Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, forced by higher-ups to shut down the Ranch, and faced his duty with a sentimental "Good Old Girl," a slow waltz about his friend, Miss Mona. Michael Francis Stroman was a weasel of a self-righteous KTEX-TV 'watchdog,' Melvin P. Thorpe, modeled on Zindler, stirring up indignation about "depravity" as he informed the masses that "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It," with the assistance of his choir and his "dogettes." Jim Speake was the oily, but likeable Governor, evading difficult questions from the press by doing "The Sidestep," slick and cheerful, and Lawrence Isaacson, the Senator who takes the Texas A&M football team, the Aggies, to a victory celebration at the ranch, where they're caught on camera by Thorpe. The Sheriff, the Mayor (John Catania), and other good citizens of Gilbert chew matters over at the Texas Twinkle Café, overseen by Doatsey Mae (Erin McGuire), who dulcetly contrasted her low-key life with her high-flown dreams in the ballad that shares her name.

... visit the gallery by Bruce-Michael Gelbert & Joseph R. Saporito

Catering to a variety of "guests'" tastes, Miss Mona's brood here was made up of some shapely guys-Joey Abramowicz, Luke Hawkins, Nathan Hershberger, Rory Hughes, Charles Logan and Santiago Solis-in addition to the gals-Sally Mae Dunn (Angel), Donna Vivino (Shy) and Elissa Goldstein (Dawn). With the addition of David Alliken, most of the guys doubled as the football team, whose testosterone-fueled "Aggie Song," in a locker-room scene, stood as another showstopper, boasting hearty singing and energetic hoofing. As the house was breaking up and its members going their separate ways, the women led the company in a rueful "Hard Candy Christmas," a piano bar favorite that proved almost heartbreaking in context.

Co-producer Black, as Edsel Mackey, helped introduce the heated plot, in "Twenty Fans;" Susan Willis played the venerable Miss Wulla Jean, who leaves the Chicken Ranch to Miss Mona; and Rita Lichtenstein and Rob Levy took various roles.

FIPAP's "Whorehouse" opened on August 31 at 8 p.m. and was slated for 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. performances on September 1 and 2, with tickets selling for $50.