Tony Tino, Casey Shuler, Drew Bastian, Andrew Rothenberg, Stephen Michael Spencer, Leenya Rideout, Jonathan Judge - Russo (Photo: Ashley Garrett)

 

Music City

By Julia Polinsky

 

Bedlam's Music City, a country-western musical featuring the songs of million-selling songwriter JT Harding, is as warm-hearted and feel-good as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Even if you don't particularly like country music, some kickass performances from superb performers, a tight, bright musical sound, and a gritty, welcoming, enveloping environment make this almost-jukebox musical a must-see.

 

Basic story: Country Music Strivers, with poverty, drugs, and the machinations of the music business thrown in. There are few surprises in Peter Zinn's likable book, and much satisfying tying up of loose ends.

 

Two brothers, TJ (Stephen Michael Spencer) and Drew (Jonathan Judge-Russo) write songs and are the "house band" for The Wicked Tickle, a Nashville country music bar and open mic venue housed in the West End Theatre on 86^th St. (you can buy beer and wine). Come early; open mic means you never know who'll get up and sing!

Stephen Michael Spencer, Casey Shuler, Jonathan Judge-Russo (Photo: Ashley Garrett)

 

The stone-broke brothers dream of selling out stadiums. After hearing them at the Tickle, producer and music scout Tammy (Leenya Rideout) asks them for a demo. Since they don't have a demo or the money to make one, they make a deal to courier drugs for Bakerman, (Andrew Rothenberg, who sang open mic at my performance) to get the couple thousand dollars for the demo.

 

That open mic also hosts 23 (Casey Shuler), whose powerful voice and delightful presence proceed to burn the place to the ground. 23 is so damn good, it's inevitable that one of the brothers will fall for her music and then herself. (Yes, her name is 23; whether or not she has a "normal" name becomes a running gag for the rest of the show.)

Casey Shuler, Andrew Rothenberg (Photo: Ashley Garrett)

 

Things get complicated, of course; 23's mom (also Leenya Rideout) is one of the addicts on TJ's delivery route; Drew resists adding 23 to the act; 23 gets a song to megasuperduper star Stuckey Stiles (Andrew Rothenberg again, in an astonishing performance). Stiles, whose own act is a bit tired, manipulates everyone around him. The producer dithers; the mom snorts; the dealer insists on things TJ does not want to do; TJ takes a stand. It all works out in the end, of course.

 

Clifton Chadisk's scenic design puts the audience front and center in the Wicked Tickle, aided by super-realistic costumes from Daniele Tyler Mathews and knockout wig design from Becky Scott (really, wig design usually doesn't get enough credit but here, it's great).

 

The musicians, under the direction of Music Director Julianne B. Merrill -- who herself not only plays the keyboards but also Wyn, the MC of the Tickle -- all the musicians are simply wonderful. Those musicians are also the actors, supported by Drew Bastian on drums, Ann Klein on guitar and lap steel, and Tony Tino on bass. That means that everyone in the cast plays one or more instruments, and does it damn well.

 

The songs are fairly standard issue country-music songs, but when the one destined to be the big hit comes along, it's so obviously a killer song that you'd be likely to hum along even if you don't know it. JT Harding, who wrote music and lyrics for the show, has written BIG sellers for BIG country stars (Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney. you get the drift), so he knows his way around a story-telling song.

 

That's a very good thing; under the layered, fluid direction of Eric Tucker, Music City tells a lovely story and makes it all work in a way that warms the cockles of the heart in this cold season. Go see it. Have a beer, kick back, and have fun.

Music City

At the West End Theatre, 263 W 86^th St

Running time: 2:15

Through February 2