The Northumberland Players production of The Honky Tonk Angels at the Best Western is without a doubt sensational. I repeat: Sensational!

And I think the packed house on Saturday night (Oct. 22) agreed with me – there was a standing ovation at the end.

For more than 25 years, Ted Swindley has written and/or directed and produced more than 200 plays. The Honky Tonk Angels, a musical comedy, is considered one of his best. It’s about three gutsy women who decide to take charge of their lives.

Angela (Lucy Caldwell) is a Texas housewife in her mid-30s. She has a great sense of humor and a fiercely independent streak. She has six kids and lives in a trailer.

Darlene (Meaghan MacDonald) is a sweet young woman from the deep south. She grew up in a coal mining town in West Virginia and the Mississippi Delta.

Sue Ellen (Marley Soutter) is a Los Angeles career woman in her 30s. She is a “citified” country girl. Twice divorced. Smart and sexy. And frustrated!

These women, all amazing singers, meet doing a show and become friends. Unhappy with their lives, they follow their dreams to the city of Nashville. They form a trio, and get a job at Honky Tonk Heaven, a Honky Tonk in Nashville. They call themselves the Honky Tonk Angels.

What is a “Honky Tonk” you may ask? Well, it’s a ‘cheap or disreputable bar, club, or dance hall, typically where country music is played.’ However, the Northumberland Players production is not in a Honky Tonk, although it may look like that.

The sets are amazing, the changing of sets is brilliant – the three women, who are the only actors in the play, wear magnificent outfits and each of them have voices that are quite literally incredible, and their harmony is a joy to listen to.

The Honky Tonk Angels sing 28 (very well-known) songs in total – that’s a lot of lyrics to remember – and they also have a ton of dialogue. All of which is sung/spoken in perfect southern accents, thanks to a local coach. And they dance, a lot. The choreography is superb, too.

Val Russell is the director of this tour de force, Leslee Argue the producer and the vocal director is Anna Mastin.

I cannot give enough kudos to these women and the dozens of creative people on this team of amazing theatre people. And all are volunteers.

This show is not to be missed. The Honky Tonk Angels is a hilarious, foot-stomping good time. It’s at the Best Western Dinner Theatre and it runs until Nov. 6. Tickets are $68, all included. Call 905-372-2105 to reserve your seat or stop by the Best Western front desk. I suggest you do that immediately – do not pass go.

Originally published in the Northumberland News