Stage Notes: Lucky Guy

Lucky Guy, a new musical comedy set in Nashville, Tennessee, written and directed by Willard Beckham stars some veteran crowd-pleasers: Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace), Varla Jean Merman (Chicago), Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal) and Jenn Colella (Urban Cowboy).  It's about a young guy trying to score a hit record and a couple of schemers trying to thwart him, with an array of musical styles. Varla Jean Merman (aka Jeffery Roberson) is one of the most talented and entertaining singer/joke telling drag queens around, fast and wicked with her ad libs, and constantly working clubs and theaters. Though I just found out yesterday that the show will end earlier than anticipated (this Sunday, May 29th) I figured why not share an interview I did with her before the show opened lat month, to ecstatic reviews.
 
Hi Varla.  I remember when you burst upon the scene, billed as "the illegitimate child of Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman."  Are you Varla Jean in this show, or another character?
 
Well, basically, they like my Varla character, so they cast her, not me.  But I play a real woman in the show, Jeannie Jeanine.  She's the Queen of Country Music, who had only one hit, so time is running out.  Leslie Jordan plays a used car salesman, who only sells the used cars of famous country singers, like Dolly Parton's old Dodge Dart, or Willie Nelson's Camaro.
 
What's the story?
 
Leslie's character is trying to foreclose on property he owns.  A record company is on the property, but he wants to open another used car lot.  The record company has acquired this song by a young guy, and Leslie knows it's going to be a hit.  So he wants me to steal the song from the young guy.
 
So that's the skullduggery.  If you steal the song, the record company won't be able to keep the property.
 
Yes, Leslie and I play the conniving two.
 
I suppose you'll be singing some songs.
 
I sing eight songs.  I sing one called, "There's Always a Hitch in a Trailer Park Romance."  I sing "I Got the Blue Jean Blues" -- that's was my hit.  I sing a Hawaiian song, "Louie from Kahalui."  The music is great.  Every song gets stuck in your head.  There are a lot of songs; country, blues, bluegrass, rock-a-billy, even Hawaiian.
 
What else can you tell us?
 
I have a secret in the show; but it's not that I'm a man, because my character is a real woman.  I have a big change in my character.  I'm sort of taken down, but I rise up again.  There may even be a little baby on the way.
 
So I guess the title refers to the young guy who has the hit song.
 
He's the guy, plus that's the title of the hit song, "Lucky Guy."  You won't believe my costumes.  William Ivey Long designed them.  I have 10 outfits in the show.  I have one of the best entrances you'll ever see.  You won't believe what the dress does, but it's a vehicle.  You're not going to believe it.
 
The Little Shubert Theatre, 422 W. 42nd St., (212) 239-6200. Through May 29th. Tickets available here.

Read Andrew Andrew's iPhone review of Lucky Guy.