It’s a rootin’ tootin’
good time at the local Laundromat where, along with the entertainment, you even
get your clothes washed and dried. In this delightful show, two gals with a love
of Grand Ole Opry find their personal lives illustrations of the plaintive country
songs they always sing. Well, since the music biz won’t open its doors to them,
they decide to create their own steamy Nashville venue, the Washateria Honky-Tonk
Opry!
When, with cleverly provided
scenery, lighting and sound design, they turn the Wishy Washy Laundromat into a
nightclub,
they prove to be a great song and dance team. While melodiously blasting their revenge
against the men that done ‘em wrong (some apparently in the audience) we see
how those shiny-red Boots Are Made For Walkin’
– which, along with Stand By Your Man
and Independence Day, is just one of
the rousing numbers in this song-filled show. 
Bets Malone and Misty
Cotton are both in fine form whether washing or warbling. Malone leads as the
proprietress with a good heart and powerful singing voice. Cotton is her wacky
assistant who is shy with customers but a hellcat with the men in her life.
Written and directed by
Roger Bean (creator of the Wonderettes & other series) who cleverly builds
this battle-of-the-sexes story around a string of rousing country songs. With lively
choreography by James Vásquez, dazzling costumes by Renetta Lloyd, and droll hair/makeup
by Byron Batista.
At Hudson Mainstage
Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, through Oct 1. Tickets: 323-960-7773
or www.plays411.com/honkytonklaundry.
Photos by Michael Lamont.
Also reviewed
in the September issue of NOT BORN YESTERDAY
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