Theater review: Melodrama’s ‘Road to Oildale’ paved with laughs

During hard economic times, like the Great Depression of the 1930s, people tended to go to movies that were funny or uplifting. It took them out of their harsh reality, even if only for a few hours, and brought them a sense of hope and the chance to dream.

The Great American Melodrama revives that spirit of fun and whimsy with its current production of “The Road to Oildale.” The show is served up with a huge side of ham and cheese, as bad puns, corny jokes and real groaners are tossed back and forth between cast members, as well as aside to the audience. What makes it all work is the fast-paced direction of long-time Melodramatist Eric Hoit, the witty script and tunes by Tim Ryan and Jordan Richardson, and the superb comic timing of the cast, especially leads Billy Breed, as Chester Wiffle, and Stefan Espinosa, as Zachary Perkins.

Presented in the spirit of the early “Road” films of the war-torn 1940s with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, “The Road to Oildale” captures a sense of a time when comedy was clean, family-oriented and, dare I say it? Truly funny!

The “Road” films were a musical-comedy genre with characters played by Hope and Crosby, who were usually con-men who openly acknowledged to the audience that they knew they were in a motion picture. There were seven “Road” pictures in all, and all were box-office hits.

The cast of “Oildale” follows this tried-and-true formula with great success. The informal style and Vaudeville banter of those movies are carried over to this show with hysterical results.

Breed is a wonderful physical comic and recalls slapstick moves of third stooge Curly Howard, while Espinosa lends a true Groucho cynicism to his comic lines. Together they create comedy mayhem and play well off other cast members and the audience responses.

Watching these guys go from Vaudevillian city-slickers to buckaroos who look more like rabbis in cowboy hats was a hoot.

While running to catch a stagecoach, Breed inquires of sidekick Espinosa why the coach can’t just pull up and pick them up. “A stagecoach? On the Melodrama’s budget? Are you kidding?” retorts Espinosa.

As Breed crawls through the desert, crying for help, Espinosa hands him a canteen and asks why he needs help, since they have water. Breed says “I’m crying for help with new jokes!”

And when one particularly bad pun elicits audible groans from the audience, Espinosa breaks that third wall yet again and announces, “Hey, they can’t all be great!”

Lillie Vagabond is played by Barb E.S. Mercado with a sense of tired worldliness that lends humor to her song “A Long Line of Girls.”

Jim Shine, a veteran of the Melodrama’s stage, is perfect in his role as Langley Grogan, a villainous no-account snake who elicits boos, groans and laughs with as little as a turned-up eyebrow.

Two cast members, Andrew Beck and Katie Worley, play multiple roles with tongue-in-cheek aplomb. Beck is especially funny as henchman Harry and Worley shines as both an old-timer and saloon girl Fifi of the faux-French accent.

In the “road” pictures, Crosby always got the girl. A light-hearted twist is given to that ending in “Oildale.”

Pianist Aaron Lamb provides great musical accompaniment and terrific tunes during intermissions, ranging from Joplin to Gershwin.

The cast presents a grande finale with its Vaudeville Review tribute to senior citizens. You’ll surely recognize a relative, neighbor (or perhaps yourself) in the very funny and tuneful “Young at Heart.”

The first lines of the opening song were lost as the audience howled at the cast, playing oldsters from a man-hungry 1980s-outfitted Mercado to Breed wearing Bermudas, a Hawaiian shirt and black wing-tips with matching socks.

Taking place at a senior center, the review takes aim at bingo, talent shows, single oldsters and even “Matlock’’ and “MacGyver.” A funny mix of tap-dancing, Shakespeare and Stephen Foster with Shine, Worley and Espinosa brought laughs and applause, and Worley’s and Beck’s tribute to “MacGyver’’ brought the house down.

Beck also acted as the evening’s emcee, humorously introducing the show and intermissions, and led the audience in songs for birthdays and anniversaries.

The in-house pub offers good grub and beverages at affordable prices. Leave a tip in the jar and they’ll reward you with a few witty and tuneful bars.

The hard-working Melodrama troupe also serves food and beverages during the breaks, ushers, moves props and set pieces and cleans up after the show.

Where else, in this hard economy, can you get such value — a good show, good food and a good time, plus free parking — at such a price? This show will appeal to young and old and all ages in between.

My Brit husband howled at the howlers and my 6-year-old grandson laughed with delight at the slapstick.

Take a tip from me and take “The Road to Oildale.” It will make you feel “Young at Heart,” and while you’re at it, give the cast a tip in the jar. They certainly deserve it.

TO SEE 'THE ROAD TO OILDALE'

n “The Road to Oildale” and the “Young at Heart” Vaudeville Revue are presented at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays through April 20. There will be no performance on Sunday, March 23.

n Food and drinks are served before the show and during intermissions.

n Tickets cost $16 and $20, with discounts for children, seniors, students and active military personnel.

n For more information and to make reservations, call the Melodrama Box Office at 489-2499.

n The Great American Melodrama is located on Highway 1 in Oceano.