Playwright: music & lyrics by David Yazbek,
book by Terrance McNally
At: Oak Park Village Players at the
Village Players Performing Arts Center,
1010 W. Madison, Oak Park
Phone: 866-764-1010; $25
Runs through: July 13
'Each of these men has his own challenges and fears to face,' said director Carl Occhipinti, speaking of his decision to take on this ambitious project. 'That's what makes this show universal.' Indeed, what could be more universal than a triumph-of-the-underdogs fable—with a contemporary gender-twist—in celebration of grassroots gumption, filial constancy ( both gay and het ) and the lengths to which blue-collar males will go in order to reclaim the masculine confidence that only breadwinning can bestow.
Our story ( based on the 1997 film ) is set in the American steel-belt region, where extensive layoffs at the factory and expansion of the local mall have made for economic reversals, the townswomen now earning more money at their retail jobs than the men collecting unemployment. Divorced Jerry has fallen behind in his child-support payments and risks losing custody of his son. Portly Dave wonders if his wife still finds him attractive, while former desk jockey Harold chafes under his inability to shower expensive gifts on his spouse. Ethan has muscles, but no brains. Gimpy Horse and wimpy Malcolm live in a state of childlike dependency with elderly clan matriarchs. Ah, but then a traveling Chippendales revue sparks a money-making scheme—if these untrained beer-swilling jamokes can bring themselves to parade like burly-girlies.
Oh, of course they do! To be sure, there are many setbacks before Jerry reunites with his son; Dave and Harold with their wives; and—since Terrance McNally authored the book for David Yazbek's songs—mommy-boy Malcolm and big-D Ethan affirm their mutual accord in a duet entitled 'You Walk With Me,' soon to become a gay wedding staple.
This low-budget suburban-storefront production is a far cry from the glitzy commercial stagings previously enjoyed by this boys-club comedy. But when your characters are supposed to be, not buff-and-fluffed odalisques, but bellies-jowls-receding-hairlines-and-sagging-pectorals Regular Guys, the non-equity cast for this Village Players' production ( a roster encompassing Broadway expats, Jeff-winners, and several Bailiwick retainers ) makes for, ironically, a more accurate—and more endearing—representation of the social milieu engendering the human values espoused by this populist dicks-and-chicks romp. The Marriott production going up next month may have the bigger, uh, bucks, but don't overlook the humbler charms of this venerable Oak Park company.