THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL

This wacky musical is pretty much what the title suggests – goofy, predictable and fun, in a pointless way. The characters, residents of a low-rent trailer park in Florida, are proud of their marginalisation, singing about being on the, “Wrong side of the tracks.” Chief entertainment comes from the trio of down-home gals Betty, Lin and Pickles (Shondelle Pratt, Shannon McKinn and Lauren Kate Butler, who is a standout among her talented companions). They riff about trailer trash life and serve as guides to their world and the story, which concerns a faltering marriage because Jeannie (Keira Daley) has been an agoraphobic since her baby son was abducted 20 years ago. Her kind and patient husband, Norbert (Julian Ramundi), desolate at the unpromising celebration of their 20-year anniversary, sparks to trailer park blow-in Pippi (Ines Vaz de Sousa, who is both acrobatic and gifted with a smoky voice), an exotic dancer on the run form a homicidal ex-boyfriend. While the arc of this musical can be a bit tiresome, the performers are clearly in high glee. It would be churlish to argue against the cumulative chorus they create.

Until Dec 18, New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown, $25, newtheatre.org.au

BY OLGA AZAR