LOCATION: Americana Theatre, 2905 W 76 Country Blvd Branson, MO
DATE: Saturday, June 1, 2013
TIME: 2pm
SEAT: Left E 2
COMPANIONS: Steven, Layne and Jillian
Tenors, tenors everywhere. Remember when those famous guys from Spain and Italy came together for some really big concerts and albums, oh, 20 years ago? Since then the hype of bringing opera to the masses via various multiple tenors has spawned all kinds of deviations, from Irish Tenors, China's Tenors, Il Divo, Ten Tenors, Canadian Tenors, Three Mo' Tenors, (the list goes on) and of course our Branson contributions of Twelve Irish Tenors, Texas Tenors (those last two to be reviewed later) and Three Redneck Tenors. The fellows in this show bring back the idea of showing how opera and truly great singing can be enjoyable to everyone, no matter what their usual musical style preference. We all recognize many classical melodies thanks to pop culture sneaking them in under our radar in shows like The Lone Ranger, Looney Tunes, Apocalypse Now, even the 70s era disco-ization of great pieces by the Hooked on Classics album/song series. The Redneck Tenors remind us of these familiar strains with the corn-fed yee-haw sense of humor that is expected from Branson.
For the first half of the show a character called The Colonel tells the tale of how the tenors, Billy Joe, Billy Bob and Billy Billy found their way out of Paris....Texas and worked their way to the top of the tenor heap. The story gives them plenty of chances to throw in the standard you-might-be-a-redneck jokes (trailer parks! outhouses! overalls! NASCAR!) and creates opportunities for them to explore a wide range of songs. There are TV themes, familiar pop/rock/country tunes, and even mash-ups of standards with classical, as in the expert blending of "Dixie" with "Ave Maria". Billy Joe is definitely the side-splitter (played by the genuinely funny and vocally amazing Matthew Lord). You can tell that he tends to go "off book" to rouse hearty laughs from the crowd, get the rest of the cast resisting the giggles, and keep the comedy fresh. Many times you can tell when Branson shows are toward the end of their seasons because it comes across as too scripted, but these fellows never let it go stale. I enjoy how they poke at all the original and subsequent tenor acts, and the costume changes are a hoot, from the original tenor fat suits, the Elvis jumpsuits, and...well, let me just say one set of outfits are quite feathery and bedazzled and leave it at that. Such grace and poise! :)
The second half of the performance is the concert section, where they focus on their incredible singing skills, with solos and showstoppers. Personal favorites in this portion are the Phantom of the Opera section featuring Billy Billy (actually the baritone among tenors, Blake Davidson), Shenandoah (featuring the ethereal, soaring vocal range of newest cast member Jonathan Fruge/aka Billy Bob), and the one that inevitably brings me to tears, Nessun Dorma, performed by all three with a heart and majesty that rivals Pavarotti's definitive version. "Green, Green Grass of Home" got me all welled up too, darn talented fellas. There are a number of performances where The Colonel (bass Dinny McGuire, who likely will remind you of that favorite uncle in your family who was the best storyteller) joined in to create some beautiful four-part harmony moments.
They all came out into the lobby after the show to chat with the audience, and all of them were friendly, down-to-earth and talkative. They put on a show with great energy and well showcased talent. Most afternoon shows in Branson have lower attendance, but the crowd was appreciative, although a bit quiet (which bugs me, because the show deserves to be stomped, clapped and cheered for loudly, which doesn't happen nearly as much as I'd like here).
Reactions from my companions:
Jillian: It was spontaneous. (Said with a smile at the memory of it).
Layne: It was funny, and I liked the musicality in the second half.
Steven: Funny.
Further asides:
*Reasonable prices on concessions with cheap soda refills. Slushies and braised almonds were standouts.
*Small gift shop.
*No issues with parking, entrance or exit.
*All staff members were friendly, quick, and helpful.
*"Bounce Back" discounts for coming back to see the other Americana shows.
*Good for all ages
*Good for all genres of musical preference.
*The Colonel used to be the Ringmaster of Barnum's Circus, see if you can get him to say the classic intro, it sounds awesome!
If you are looking for solid comedy to go with strong musical talent, this is your show. Genuinely fun, and we left with our sides hurting from the laughter and a little mist in the eyes.
