BWW Reviews: NYMF's SINGLE WIDE is Heartwarming Despite Unintentional Camp

My favorite thing about attending The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is the fact that I truly never know what to expect from the works I see there. Walking into SINGLE WIDE, I was expecting a completely irreverent musical soiree along the lines of David Nehls and Betsy Kelso's THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, which premiered at NYMF. Instead, I was treated to a nearly complete project with a heartwarming, albeit a tad clichéd, story that was as wholesome as it was entertaining.

George D. Nelson, a professor at and director of the Playwriting Program at Brigham Young University, has crafted a surprisingly tender plot in his book for SINGLE WIDE. His musical, which often feels ripped from the pages of a Lifetime Movie Network teleplay, casts aside the tropes of mocking your typical denizens of trailer parks and uses these stereotyped and broken personas to remind the audience that we're all worthy of love regardless of our sins. However, his plot manages to stay pretty much drama free until late into the second act when Flossie, the trailer park trollop, tricks the heroine of the show, Katy, into thinking her beau, Guy, has been an unfaithful lover.

In the aftermath of Nelson's climatic revelation the audience learns that Guy, whom we almost always see carrying a six pack of beer in the first act, served as a member of the military and fought in the Middle East. Yet, judging by his costuming and his guarded demeanor, this revelation came as no surprise. It is also revealed that he was making progress with Alcoholics Anonymous, but had fallen off the wagon due to the drama of his life and the trailer park. This reveal, which is much more poignant and interesting, relies too heavily on the aforementioned visual cues in the first act and is not explored as much as the audience would like. Here is the humanizing substance for the aloof and hunky neighbor, but it's only touched upon. Going forward, I would hope that the material fleshes this character out more by exploring these aspects of his arc. This would definitely clarify his motivations and make his arc more appealing. It simply is not enough that he seems to be fond of Katy's son and turns out to be a rather admirable male role model for the child.

Music by Jordan Kamalu gives the show a pop country score that is fitting for the characters and scenario. The melodies and motifs are generic in that Top 40 Modern Country radio kind of way, but that really is not a determent to the show. Conversely, the tone of the lyrics shift over the course of the show. The opening song, "Payday," explains that he cast is living from paycheck to paycheck. We come to understand that everyone is paid every other week, making those interim weeks without a check a struggle. This a logical setup for the song "Overdue," which is the second number of the show. Here the lyrics use the idea of a bill being overdue as a metaphor for the good in the lives of Katy and her neighbors as being overdue. After these songs, the show's plot unfolds and we get see how these people live and who they are. "Pet Shop" serves as a comedy number that kind of comes out of nowhere, but is also informative about Amanda's job. Then, later in the show, there is an oddly confusing number, "Microwave Life." The tune sticks out like a sore thumb as it is rife with campy lyrics that do not fit the show that has been developed around the song at all. While relatable and a somewhat solid metaphor, these lyrics seem as if they'd be more at home in THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL than SINGLE WIDE. It's truly unintentional camp comedy gold.

The cast for SINGLE WIDE ensured the show was a success. Emma Stratton makes single mom Katy relatable, and we root for her to find love and happiness. Derek Carley's Guy is brooding and intriguing. Even though the character packs no true surprises, the audience cares about him. Stacia Fernandez is charming as Katy's single mom, and the audience adores how protective she is of her family. Matt Miner's sometimes mischievous and always charismatic Sam is simply adorable. Jacqueline Petroccia makes Flossie, the floosy with a tarnished heart of gold, a fun character to watch. Maya Landau's Amy, Alex Lanning's Ali, and Maclain Nelson's Bodie do a sturdy job rounding out the cast as the ensemble.

There is no denying that SINGLE WIDE has life after NYMF. The audience I saw it with responded enthusiastically to the production. I myself enjoyed it too. Leveling out the tone of the lyrics so that they consistently present audiences with the same show and massaging the book will make the show a much stronger piece. As of now, I could see this musical being kicked around community theaters for years to come. With a bit of work, it could be something that entertains, warms the heart, and has a successful life in a quaint Off-Broadway and then regional theater setting.

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