BWW Reviews: NonProphet Theater Co. Provides Raunchy Adult Fun with DEBBIE DOES DALLAS-THE MUSICAL

The actual porno movie, Debbie Does Dallas, incited a revolution of sorts in the porn industry. While it certainly wasn't the first such film to feature a batch of less than attractive talent, or the first to gain most of its dough from the then fledgling, and soon burgeoning, video market, it signaled the death knell for most theatrical releases of much of the higher quality, star-driven material (until the switch from film to video changed the rules, and the pay scale, all over again). And, since even the MPAA's attempt to certify films with strong sexual content as NC-17 failed in theatres for the most part, (and often prevented them, with rare exceptions, from getting any kind of print advertising as well), they wound up gaining most of their income from video and cable sales.

So, in a sense, it was a ground-breaking bit of sordid celluloid that ushered in an era of amateur pornography, where a pimply ass was not something to be ashamed of, but something to be celebrated, sort of. And it was a time when you could watch this kind of stuff at home without the fear of anyone seeing you walk out of a dingy, sticky-floored theatre like the old Fine Arts. Turning this bit of adult-oriented goofiness into a full-fledged musical is an inspired notion, and happily we have NonProphet Theatre Company, as well as authors Erica Schmidt, Andrew Sherman and Susan L. Schwartz, to thank (and I truly mean that) for unleashing the peculiarly amusing aberration that is Debbie Does Dallas - The Musical on the stage-going public here in St. Louis.

The plot is simple, as an ambitious small town girl named Debbie Benton receives a coveted invitation (from heaven no less) to audition to become a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. This is indeed a prestigious position where the profession of cheerleader is concerned. But, being low on funds, she and her gracious friends adopt a few other positions, some of them missionary (taking on the world's oldest profession as you will), in order to supply the cash necessary for Debbie to make her journey complete. And, it's all set to music! What more could you ask for, and don't say: "A happy ending", if you get my drift, and I know that those "in the know" do.

Macia Noorman is cute and appealing as the innocent Debbie, and handles her tongue-in-cheek balladry with aplomb. Rachel Hanks does sharp work as her chief rival Lisa, and Bitsy Bittersweet amuses as the most reluctant participant of the group, Tammy, who thinks this unusual line of work will interfere with her senatorial dreams. Jane Tellini is good as the buxom Roberta, and Elizabeth Graveman is properly hot and perpetually horny as Donna. Chris Ayala, Reginald Pierre and Tom Lehmann do a good job of covering all the male parts, including various boyfriends, as well as the employers of the girls and their particular talents.

Robert A. Mitchell directs with one sure hand free (you don't want to know what the other is doing), and JT Ricroft provides the eye-catching choreography that makes the most of a bevy of young female pulchritude in bosomy blouses and very tight short shorts. Ricroft even gets to stick in a tap dance number that's most unexpected, and he also has the men pulling their weight as well. Phillip Allen Coan contributes an effectively moody lighting scheme, and Heather Tucker handles the various costumes well. Mitchell, along with Greg Hunsaker provides a suitable scenic design that's simple and changeable with a football field in perspective as a basic backdrop. Overall, the show is a bit frenetic and unhinged, but that works for this raunchy material.

NonProphet Theater Company's production of Debbie Does Dallas - The Musical is adult fun that's filled with enough double entendres and silly sight gags to please most audiences who would be inclined to attend in the first place. It's certainly engaging and goofily enjoyable fun, and I laughed more times than I could count. This presentation continues through August 20, 2011 at the Regional Arts Commission on Delmar Boulevard.

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