Some things in life are just so good you need a second taste, whether it’s another bite of something delicious or a second showing of a local performance that blew audiences away the first time around.
Originally premiering in Space 55’s spring season, “Country Blue Saloon” now blows back into town for an encore performance, complete with an updated story line and new songs.
A small saloon with homey decorations sets the stage for the fun and wholesome musical, which follows a starry-eyed guitarist named Lee (Ron Foligno) who returns to town after his dreams of becoming a Hollywood hotshot fizzled out. His main goal? Win back the heart of his spurned love Angie (Brianne Massa), as well as the trust of his sister Layla (Jennifer Jones Nesbit). Luckily he’s got Layla’s love Lisa (Brandi Bigley) on his side, as well as his trusty guitar, which he plucks away throughout the entire show, drawing from it a variety of melodies whose rhythms change with the story’s ups and downs.
While the characters are easy to root for, with good hearts and complex stories, the show’s greatest draw is its fantastic soundtrack by Randy Daniels, which first inspired creator Duane Daniels to put pen to paper.
“My brother has been writing songs his whole life, and he has developed quite a list of songs,” said Duane Daniels. “I think he’s a great writer, and I just wanted a chance to put together a lot of his songs into a show and create a story around them.”
From the opening song, “Country Blue,” heart and harmony combine into a gorgeous tune that sets high expectations that will be met and exceeded in later songs such as the emotional duet “Someone’s Gonna Love You Like I Do,” in which Angie tells Lee about her heartbreak over his past departure.
Although Angie tenderly sings about how they aren’t meant to be, her large, tear-filled eyes tell a different story, as well as the beautiful dress she wears—“Armor,” she explains away to her coworkers—along with the face full of makeup, or, as she calls it, “War paint!” Her and Lee’s voices blend beautifully in a shining song that exemplifies the soul and warmth of country music.
Jennifer Jones Nesbit, who plays Layla, says even those who typically dislike country music can enjoy the songs. “So many people came in—even those who don’t normally like country—and one of the most common comments was that, ‘I’m not usually into country, but I really loved this music! I fell in love with this music!’” She said.
“I usually love pop music,” said ASU Health major Myeshia Owten. “I only know about two country songs. But I loved the melody of this, especially the one where Angie wore her dress and her ‘war paint.’ That one was just great.”
When asked about the show’s appeal, Daniels said, “I think it starts with the wonderful songs, but you know ultimately, it’s a nice, uplifting tale. It’s a nice story about good people doing the right thing. It’s got values that go back a little ways, not like today’s climate. It’s a little bit of a throwback to a simpler mindset, with just more caring, more love in the world.”
“I think what’s missing in a lot of new theater these days is it can get kinda dark,” said actress Brianne Massa. “There’s absolutely a place for that, but what I think what’s nice about this show is that it’s light, it’s fun, and when the audience leaves, they’re leaving in a good mood, and that’s what I like giving to people.”
Besides being the creator and co-writer of “Country Blue Saloon,” Daniels also plays multiple characters. One is Jimmy, a weeping regular who stars in some of the play’s funniest songs, “I’m in the Middle of Losing my Mind” and “I’d Rather Drink Beer.”
All the weakness of Jimmy’s character is overpowered by his strong, soaring voice. With the vocal range of a weeping Elvis Presley, Jimmy shakes his legs from his bar stool and howls about how much he hates Angie’s sandwiches but loves the saloon’s beer.
As his face contorts with agonized and comical expressions, his body flails in his seat and his voice rises and falls in a frenzy that both pleases the ear and perfectly expresses his inner agony, making audiences laugh at his musical angst.
The first time “Country Blue Saloon” played on the stage, it took home an award from the AriZoni theater ceremony.
“I was nominated for the writing of the script, but Randy did win the award for best original composition,” Daniels said. “That felt great. I knew, going in, that these songs were absolutely amazing, and the audiences have been agreeing… They’re just really great songs. So we’ve been recording the cast album as well, and that should be available soon. A couple songs are available now, but the whole album should be available soon.”
To many of its cast and crew, Space 55 is the perfect stage for a play such as “Country Blue Saloon” to flourish and grow.
Nesbitt’s first show with Space 55 was last season’s showing of “Country Blue Saloon,” but she has been a fan of the theater for a long time. “They seem to bring together some of the greatest people in general—they’re artists, but most of all, they’re great people. And every show is so different…Every single one of them has been something new, something original, and something fresh,” she said.
“Space 55 reminds me of those little black box theaters in New York or Chicago where you find yourself stumbling into one, and you pay $15 or $20 bucks, but you’re blown away by an amazing show in this little, tiny theater, and you almost feel privileged to have seen something like this as opposed to paying crazy money for a bigger, budget show. I just love it. I love the spirit of the whole show.”
“Space 55 is a great place for a developing work, in particular,” Daniels said. “We’ve had really great writers premiere great shows there, and that’s really what Space 55 is known for.”
Daniels thinks that the small venue allows the theater to take more risks. “Because we don’t have to fill 500 seats, we can do more risky material,” he said. “It’s just the mindset of Space 55, it’s their identity to develop new work. In a lot of theaters, it’s gonna be ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ again, or it’s gonna be some play that everybody’s done a million times, but Space 55, they’re willing to take a chance on something that no one’s ever heard of before, there’s no guarantee people will buy tickets, but Space 55 puts themselves in the position where that’s their risk, that’s what they support, that’s what they care about.”
In the case of “Country Blue Saloon,” Space 55’s risk definitely paid off.
Once the stands have been filled and the lights fall, it’s easy to forget you’re sitting in a small theater nestled indiscreetly off 18th Ave and West McDowell Road. As the lights illuminate the scene of “Country Blue Saloon” and the honeyed harmonies flow from the set, it’s easy to feel like part of the family, sitting at the saloon with a beer in hand and a smile on your face.
“Country Blue Saloon” plays in Space 55 until Nov. 18. Tickets are $20 each. Two of the soundtrack’s songs, “Tiny Little Arms” and “When I Was a Kid” can be purchased online at https://www.zdigital.com.au/
