Chaz Rose, Andy Christopher and Lindsey Corey are part of a cast of 10 in "Hank Williams: Lost Highway."
What "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" lacks in substance, it sure makes up for in talent. Actors' Playhouse is presenting the musical in its intimate upstairs Balcony Theatre on Miracle Mile.
Andy Christopher is the most likeable "Hank" you'll ever meet, and the actor can sing and play guitar, too. His resume certainly shows him cast in legacy roles, as the rockabilly legend Buddy Holly in a national tour of "The Buddy Holly Story," as Woody Guthrie in "This Land is Your Land" and playing the same Hank Williams role at North Carolina's Flat Rock Playhouse and West Virginia's Public Theatre.
Jeremy Sevelovitz, Andy Christopher, Lindsey Corey and Stephen G. Anthony in Actors' Playhouse's "Hank Williams: Lost Highway."
He's surrounded by a jackpot cast including local favorites Lindsay Corey as Williams' narcissistic and needy wife Audrey, Stephen G. Anthony as Hoss (is there any role Anthony can't do? Here he plays stand-up bass as well as show his acting chops as Drifting Cowboys band member and dedicated friend), Barry Tarallo in his 11th show at Actors' Playhouse, the ultra-talented Elizabeth Dimon as Williams' Mama Lilly, and Sofia Porcel, a regular at Boca Raton's The Wick theater, is the waitress with stars in her eyes for Williams.
Rounding out the cast are Chaz Rose as Tee-Tot with a baritone voice that raises the rafters of the Miracle Theatre, Jeremy Sevelovitz as Williams' best pal and guitar player Jimmy "Burrhead," H. Drew Perkins as "Loudmouth," whose resume includes touring with Minnie Pearl, and Russ Wever from Kansas City as Shag who's the master of steel guitar. While a few of the scenes take place in the Grand Ole Opry, Wever can bring real-life experience into Actors' since he's been on the real Opry stage.
What the bio-musical, written by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, does best is showcase Williams' catalogue of songs with more than 20, some of which will be recognizable to the masses, others will be to diehard fans, but it's wonderful music, nonetheless.
Andy Christopher and Lindsey Corey as Hank and Audrey Williams in "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" at Actors' Playhouse with final performances this weekend.
The story itself is one of Williams' tragic fall from grace – an unhappy drunk who ends up dying in the back seat of a car from a heart attack on the way to a gig at age 29. Missing pieces, however, in the story never really flesh out why Williams was so lonesome. But it was a wise choice on the part of the writers to put the songs front and center. They are the star of the show and the multi-talented cast that brings them to life with an earnest zest.
While Porcel does a darn good job as the waitress in a circa 1950s truck stop diner with a set design by Jodi Dellaventura that's a character in itself. The Waitress acts mostly as narrator sometimes and then, in one odd twist, meets Williams. He takes her out of the truck stop and they end up in some pasture where he wants to have his way with her. It's odd and doesn't really fit the rest of the script.
Director David Arisco has the show moving at a brisk pace, which is necessary, and keep an eye on the action happening on both sides of the stage. On stage right is Tee-Tot's house and on the left is the truck stop. Arisco has the actors hardly ever leave their perches and while there's action center stage, Porcel listens to Williams on the radio and preps her counter for customers. Tee-Tot reads his Bible and smiles at Williams' success, but it's never intrusive. In fact, you may not even notice, but take note because it's really smartly done.
LEFT: Andy Christopher plays country legend Hank Williams, with Barry Tarallo as "Pap" Rose, in "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" at Actors' Playhouse. | RIGHT: Chaz Rose (left) as Tee-Tot and Andy Christopher as Hank Williams in "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" at Actors' Playhouse.
There is so much good about "Lost Highway," most notably the affable cast, that you won't want it to end.
But just like Williams' being gone too soon this show's short run is a bit of a shame. You have to run and go see it this weekend. "Lost Highway" had a limited run at Actors' Playhouse because director Arisco and crew are starting immediately on readying their next show.
But the show was so well received, don't be surprised if Actors' Playhouse brings it back for an encore.
- "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik at Actors' Playhouse in the Balcony Theatre at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables.
- 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through July 31.
- $40 to $90
- 305-444-9293 or actorsplayhouse.org.
