Smoke on the Mountain: Fun-filled Family Fare

One of the joys of this blog is the unexpected discovery of wonderful Branson shows. Smoke on the Mountain is such a wonderful show. The year is 1938. The setting is the fictional Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. The situation is the visit of the Sanders family, gospel singers invited to the church by its young, new pastor. Both the young pastor and the visiting evangelists may be just a tad too modern for the ultra-conservative congregation. Much of the humor of the show comes from interaction with the congregation, which is – in fact – comprised of the show’s audience.

The show is very funny, but it’s humor is not situational, rather it is drawn from the characters themselves. While the lines are funny, the show might fall flat with a different cast. The actors indeed bring these characters to life. Not once does the audience see Branson performers, but for two straight hours, one experiences the trial and tribulations of a pastor who wants to drag his church into the twentieth century, but who is afraid of offending his staunch and stodgy church pillars.

Smoke on the Mountain is different than most Branson Shows. Whereas most Branson Shows are variety shows or concerts, this is a play; a good one. There is plenty of music, though. Good music. The cast is talented, and the production is simple, straight-forward. The theater is the Little Opry Theatre in the Imax Complex, which is intimate and comfortable. I sat on the back row on the right side, yet I had no trouble seeing the twinkle in the eyes of the cast on stage right.

To some, my description of this enjoyable play may sound sacrilegious, but it is not. It is a true-to-life account of situations with which any middle-American can identify, if raised in a Christian home. The young pastor is full of temptation. Mr. Sanders is a simple working man who does his best to share the Word of God through his music, but he is a little out of touch with his college-aged children. Mrs. Sanders is full of passion for the Gospel, but must be tempered by her husband. And, the hapless youngest daughter struggles for attention. Watch the youngest daughter carefully when you see this show. She is the funniest actor on stage. Her improvisation of American Sign Language (she claims to be an interpreter, but knows absolutely NO signs) will have you rolling in the aisle.

I highly recommend this show. You must see it. The cast is, by the way, preparing a Christmas show that I am dying to see.

2012 Branson Passport Rating for Smoke on the Mountain (out of 5):

Family Friendly – 5

Entertaining – 5

Musical Abilities – 5

Vocal Abilities – 5

Professionalism – 5

Total Score – 5

Smoke on the Mountain runs Tuesday through Saturday at 8 PM at the Little Opry Theatre in Branson . For a complete schedule, go to http://www.bransonimax.com/index.php/big-live-shows/6-SMOKE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN

The Rat Pack – a Tribute

I have always hated to see any Branson Show fail, but, last night, I made up my mind that some shows simply deserve to fail. The Rat Pack at the Icon Theatre is perhaps the worst show I have seen in Branson. While watching it, I did something I have never done before, I left at intermission. I simply could not take anymore.

Please, let me explain: it is not all bad. The band boasts a couple of Branson’s finest musicians. Why they are laboring away at one of the poorest and smallest shows in Branson can only be explained by a poorer economy. But, when I say band, I mean just that. The show advertises a full orchestra, but what it has is a guitarist, a bass guitarist, a drummer, and a piano player. The band, though, was the best part about the show.

The Rat Pack is a 5 pm show that bills itself as a dinner show, but there was no dinner available. “Not until peak season,” I was told. I wanted to respond with a flippant remark, that it is the first of June, and it is peak season in Branson, but I bit my lip. After all, that was all I would be able to eat, with no dinner served.

The Icon Theatre is a small, second floor venue, with cushioned convention center chairs instead of theater seats. It is so small that there is not a bad seat in the house. So, I took mine on the second row. That was a mistake. Sitting little more than arm’s reach from the impersonators allowed me to see all to clearly how little they look like the stars they mimic.

The show was opened by John Shaw, who has performed at Dean Martin in New York and Vegas. He, indeed, sounds much like Dean when he sings, even more so when he talks. He doesn’t look much like Dean, though, and his performance was lackluster. I sat through it thinking that I could tolerate the show, so long as the guy performing as Sinatra was pretty good. He wasn’t.

Duke Hazlet – Sinatra – has been around for years. A Google search of his name shows that he quickly went from a wannabe to a has-been Sinatra impersonator. I cannot say if this guy was ever a world-class Sinatra impersonator, but I can tell you that he doesn’t sound like Sinatra now. He struggled with his breath control, couldn’t hit any of the high notes, or hold a note for long. His voice cracked. Listening to him was not enjoyable.

Before intermission, “Sammy Davis, Jr.” made an appearance. In fairness to James Tarver, who plays Sammy, he does a reasonably good impersonation. But, after watching the dismal performance of Hazlet, I needed to be wowed. Whether my attitude or whether I sensed the attitude of the performer, Tarver seemed to be merely going through the motions.

Intermission was at the end of Tarver’s second song, and I left. My wife, who had remained silent through the show, commented that she was glad I chose to leave. She, too, found it unbearable. She insightfully noted that all the performers – band included – seemed uninspired, had no charisma, and were not enjoying themselves. But, then, it is hard to enjoy oneself when you are attached to a dying show. There were only a dozen people in the audience (on a Friday night). If no one can resuscitate this show, I hope it dies quickly and painlessly.

But, then… this is only one man’s opinion.

2012 Branson Passport Rating for The Rat Pack (out of 5):

Family Friendly – 4

Entertaining – 2

Musical Abilities – 3

Vocal Abilities – 2

Professionalism – 2

Total Score – 2.6

The Rat Pack performs most nights at 5 PM at the Icon Theatre in Branson . For a complete schedule, go to http://www.theicontheatre.com/cristy_lane_theatre_004.htm

Paul Harris and the Cleverlys

It is not an easy task to review Paul Harris and the Cleverlys, for it is impossible to describe their show. So, let me say right up front, this Branson show is so good that I wish it was a weekly TV series. I would love to see it again tonight.

Staged with no decoration, no back drop, no special effects, and no fancy lighting, this show is a throwback to the early days of Branson (before the dancers, the Vegas-style lighting, and the Broadway staging).  Harris need not apologize for the minimalist staging, however, for once he and the boys start playing, it’s obvious that they are a talented bluegrass band, and that is the only thing that matters.

What isn’t so obvious – at least up front – is that the bluegrass is just an added bonus. It took me about a song and a half to realize exactly what I was watching, but I don’t feel bad, for some in the audience took longer to catch on.  What we were watching was perhaps the funniest man to pick up a stringed instrument since Tommy Smothers or Steve Martin. From the minute Paul Harris walked on stage until the time the lights went out, his tongue was firmly planted in his cheek.

The show is really a mock concert.  Paul Harris and his band are the opening act.  When they are finished performing, Paul Harris warms the audience up with his comedy.  After intermission, the main attraction takes the stage.  The main attraction is the band, The Cleverlys, which is, of course, the alter-ego of Paul Harris and his band.  Like the original Blues Brothers, one just doesn’t know how seriously to take them.

Harris is from Arkansas, and when he is in character as Digger Cleverly, the Arkansas drawl is exaggerated by ten-fold.  He dons sunglasses and a cowboy hat and never cracks a smile.  It is his straight face, and the straight faces in the band, that left some in the audience wondering if they were serious.  Let me advise those going to this show, the only thing serious is that this band is seriously talented.  Harris presents a couple of classic bluegrass tunes, and gives a nod to Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass, and to Earl Scruggs, but most of their music is unconventional.

Let me clarify: they present unconventional songs set to bluegrass music.  Music selected includes a Black-eyed Peas tune, a Fergie song, and a number from Bruce Hornsby.  There is even a rendition of a video game theme.  Sound stupid?  I told you I wouldn’t do justice describing this show.  It is absolutely fall-out-of-your-seat-funny.

Harris’s stand up, between music acts is just as funny, but don’t get me wrong when I said that this show is a throwback to the early days of Branson.  Harris is no toothless clown in baggy pants.  His humor is drawn from his days growing up in the Ozarks.  Harris is genuinely funny.  He doesn’t just tell funny jokes.  He is a story teller.  While I have no criticism of this part of the show, for I thoroughly enjoyed the stand up, I do have a suggestion.  If Harris would realize that the most humorous parts of his stand-up are the stories, and not the jokes, he could rise from the ranks of the standard funny man to the ranks of Will Rogers.

2012 Branson Passport Rating for Paul Harris and the Cleverlys (out of 5):

Family Friendly – 4

Entertaining – 5

Musical Abilities – 5

Vocal Abilities –  5

Professionalism – 5

Total Score – 4.8

Paul Harris and the Cleverlys perform at The White House Theatre in Branson, MO at 8pm (most nights).  For a complete schedule, go to http://paulharris.kungfubranson.com/show_dates.html.  Also check out: http://www.paulharriscomedy.com/ and http://thecleverlys.com/