BWW Reviews: SNEAKY OLE TIME Will Have You Clapping Along, Tapping Your Toes and Laughing in No Time

Sneaky Ole Time/music & lyrics by Paul Overstreet/book by Steve Mazur/directed by Michael Myers/Ruskin Group Theatre/thru September 19, 2015

Ruskin Group Theatre's world premiere of Sneaky Ole Time makes for a delightful, easy-breezy, light-hearted two hours filled with clever songs by Grammy-winning writer Paul Overstreet and solid performances by its cast of nine triple-threats. Michael Myers directs his talented ensemble at a steady, easy-going pace. Providing strong musical support, musical director Cliff Wagner leads the nicely laid-back Halfway Home House Band (with Jeff Ross on guitar and vocals, Jim Doyle on drums and Greg Boaz on bass). Wagner also does double duty designing the detailed Tennessee honky-tonky set.

Sneaky Ole Time takes place one early afternoon in the Halfway Home Tavern run by Janine. Her regulars Red, The Old Man and Sheila populate the bar as the broken jukebox gets repaired by Barry; and the newly-hired waitress Lexi finally arrives. Add to this mix of characters - Lucky, a Casanova-type and Jack, an out-of-towner who just crashed his motorcycle.

Book by Steve Mazur marries Overstreet's lyrics to equally clever lines of dialogue (e.g.; "Men are just rude, lewd and crude"). Harmless scolding and teasing of each other - married versus serial dater, romantic against sexual, women in total opposition of men - plausibly lead the cast in and out of Overstreet's twenty-something songs, with each performer getting their individual and group chances to grab their spotlight.

As the unlucky-at-love Sheila, Nina Brissey nails her gorgeous solo in "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love" with very nice harmony back-up from Amy Motta. Motta belts out her big number later in the show voicing Janine's heartache in "One of Those Things."

Robert Craighead essays the cranky, "been there, done it all" Red, utilizing his luscious baritone (bass-baritone?) in comic numbers "It Takes a Whole Lot of Liquor to Like Her" and with Ken Korpi in "Low Life." Korpi's the full-of-himself Lucky, the perfect player who uses every cheesy pick-up line to pick up (at a low rate of success) all the "darlings" he encounters. Korpi gives his character full-dimensionality exposing his vulnerability in his heart-tugging "She's Crazy."

Dave Florek readily plays The Old Man who's constantly going to pee. Florek very effectively sings the title ballad "Sneaky Ole Time."

Nicole Olney's simply wonderous as the new waitress, the incredibly smart blonde Lexi. Quoting philosophers and citing quantum physics equations (Lexi has an IQ of 150!), Olney reminds of an uninhibited Jennifer Lawrence. Olney's lapdance on the guileless Jack raises the appropriate temperature of the bar.

Alexander Hitzig essays the injured Jack as a still-in-shock, budding musician questioning his intended proposal to his girlfriend Maggie. Hitzig's Jack comes out of his shell and seizes centerstage singing and playing the hell out of his violin in the first act closer "Country Twilight Zone."

Lara Jones' heavenly vocals reveal themselves when her Maggie beautifully duets with Hitzig in "When You Say Nothing at All."

Kudos to Tor Campbell for his very fun, boot-stomping choreography, well-executed by all, especially by Chip Bolcik who gets to utilize his non-dancer's body as Barry with his very smooth moves in "Some Beach." Awright, Bolcik!

All the harmonies backing up the various songs, all first-rate and heavenly.

Y'all just need to kick back and enjoy a good ole time at this country/western watering hole.

www.ruskingrouptheatre.com

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