T.J. Mullin is undoubtedly the most prolific and successful playwright/director/producer/actor in the Rocky Mountain region. Also, he's assembled one of the most popular, versatile ensembles in town. Whether attending slap-happy melodramas, nostalgic musical revues, or audience participation children's theater, the crowds that flock to Heritage Square Music Hall in Golden invariably come away happy, particularly after an all-you-can-eat buffet meal and a wholesome, family friendly show.
Following great success spoofing 19th century classics like Sweeney Todd, Phantom of the Opera and Dracula, Mullin has turned his creative attention to biography, treating audiences to his unique take on western icons Buffalo Billy Cody and Annie Oakley. Buffalo Bill is an outstanding choice, considering the legend is buried on Lookout Mountain, spitting distance from the jewel box theater, with an excellent museum nearby. The City of Golden owes Mullin big time for the endorsement.
There are plenty of interesting facts -- Mullin has certainly done his homework -- but the show never seems burdened by the need for slavish adherence to historical accuracy. This is a musical hall, not a classroom, and though you can depend on Mullin getting the references right, the whole saga of Annie Oakley's (Annie Dwyer) rise from rags to riches and romance with fellow sharpshooter and manager Frank Butler (Rory Pierce) is punctuated with classic musical hall mirth and merriment.
Buffalo Bill (T.J. Mullin) serves as narrator, deftly stepping in and out of scenes and moving the whole production along like a master showman. The play is episodic, featuring dramatized events, usually involving a challenge of some sort to Annie, and her rising to meet that challenge. It's actually an empowering message as she triumphs again and again over egoists and bullies. Sometimes it takes a person of true character and good will to recognize another, regardless of social standing. There are several sly references to "Annie Get Your Gun," which has one of the best scores and most embarrassingly politically incorrect books to come out of Broadway. This show is much more respectful of the characters' dignity.
Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley rubbed elbows with a fascinating cross section of American and European dignitaries as well as the lower classes. Audiences get to see Queen Victoria herself. Also Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sitting Bull, and in the hilarious climax to the comedy, in which Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is recreated onstage, perhaps even the person sitting next to them!
Music Hall stalwarts Johnette Toye and Alex Crawford play a multitude of comical characters, along with the wily and wild A.K. Klimpke, who was born for this kind of performance, and returns to the Music Hall after 20 years at Boulder's Dinner Theatre. The cast returns after the 70-minute comedy to perform a wonderfully realized country music revue.
"Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley" signals another new, yet fond and funny direction for Heritage Square Music Hall: biographical comedies. Bring the whole family to see this one, THEN check out the museum on Lookout Mountain. It will be an enriching, entertaining experience.
"Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley" plays through May 22. Call 303-279-7800 for reservations, or visit www.hsmusichall.com. And for younger folk, check out the Music Hall's Children's Theatre, 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and selected weekdays, featuring "Billy the Kid" through June 25.
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