THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS

'''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''' is a musical with a book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall. It is based on a story by King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas.

Contents

Production history

Synopsis

Song list

Awards and nominations

Film adaptation

Film censorship

Film quotes

Bibliography

Discography

External links

Production history

The original Broadway production was directed by Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune and choreographed by Tune and Thommie Walsh. It opened on June 19, 1978 at the 46th Street Theatre and ran for 1,584 performances. The opening night cast included Carlin Glynn, Henderson Forsythe, Delores Hall, and Pamela Blair. Glynn was replaced by Fannie Flagg and Anita Morris later in the run.
In 1982, Glynn and Hall were cast in what was described as "a return engagement." After nine previews, it opened on May 31 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre and ran for 63 performances.
A short-lived sequel entitled ''The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public'' was staged on Broadway in 1994.

Synopsis

It is the late 1970s, and a brothel that has been operating outside of fictional Gilbert, Texas, for more than a century is under the proprietorship of Miss Mona Stangley. While taking care of her girls, she is also on good terms with the local sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd. When crusading television reporter Melvin P. Thorpe decides to make the illegal activity an issue, political ramifications cause the place to be closed down.

Song list

;Act I

★ Prologue

★ 20 Fans

★ A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place

★ Girl, You're a Woman

★ Watch Dog Theme

★ Texas Has a Whorehouse in It

★ Twenty-Four Hours of Lovin'

★ Watch Dog Theme (Reprise)

★ Texas Has a Whorehouse in It (Reprise)

★ Doatsy Mae

★ Angelette March

★ The Aggie Song

★ The Bus From Amarillo
;Act II

★ The Sidestep

★ No Lies

★ Good Old Girl

★ Hard Candy Christmas

★ Finale

Awards and nominations

★ Tony Award for Best Musical (nominee)

★ Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominee)

★ Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Henderson Forsythe, 'winner')

★ Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Carlin Glynn, 'winner'; Joan Ellis, nominee)

★ Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)

★ Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)

★ Theatre World Award (Carlin Glynn, 'winner')

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical (nominee)

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Henderson Forsythe, nominee)

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Carlin Glynn, nominee)

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Pamela Blair, nominee)

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee)

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical ('winner')

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics ('winner')

★ Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music ('winner')

Film adaptation

The 1982 feature film adaptation released by Universal Pictures was written and directed by Colin Higgins. The cast included Dolly Parton, Burt Reynolds, Jim Nabors, Charles Durning, Dom DeLuise, Robert Mandan, Lois Nettleton, Theresa Merritt, Barry Corbin, Mary Jo Catlett, and Mary Louise Wilson.
Durning was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Golden Globe nominations went to the film for Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) and Parton for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical).
The plot is basically the same as that of the stage production, with one significant difference. In the original, Ed Earl and Miss Mona had a one-night stand (which the sheriff has forgotten) fifteen years earlier, but in the film they maintain an ongoing affair. Their relationship in the film brings about not only the (added) accusatory scene, when the sheriff—disappointed that Mona has broken her promise (likewise added) to close the Chicken Ranch down long enough for things to cool off—calls her a whore, but also the happy ending at the very end, when he proposes marriage to Mona (which she accepts), even though that might endanger his chances to be elected as a state legislator (he is elected anyway). A sub-plot involving Angel and Shy (newly arriving workers at the Chicken Ranch) was deleted from the film.
The Broadway score was embellished with two songs written by Parton, "Sneakin' Around" and a two-stanza version of the popular hit "I Will Always Love You".
The house used in the film version is located at Universal Studios in Hollywood and can be viewed as part of the backlot tram tour. The inspiration for the set came from a real house located outside Austin, Texas, which is featured in scenes from the movie [1].

Film censorship

The film version presented some difficulties for Universal, particularly with advertising for the film. In 1982, the word whorehouse was considered obscene in parts of the United States, resulting in the film being renamed ''The Best Little Cathouse in Texas'' in some print ads, while television ads were either banned outright in some areas, or the offending word was censored. During interviews, Parton sometimes referred to the film as ''The Best Little Chicken House in Texas''.

Film quotes

★ "You know, it's always a business doing pleasure with you, Charlie!"

★ "Everybody liked Ed Earl. Especially Ed Earl!"

★ "Oh Fred, you don't mean to tell me, that the cows don't appreciate the time off when the bull goes over to another pasture?"

★ Mona: "You know, I knew a woman who had a vision of Jesus. He came into her house, and sat right down at the foot of her bed. I don't know what I'd do if that happened to me.
Ed Earl: "I'll tell you something, honey. If Jesus comes to your house, all Hell is gonna break loose!"

★ Mona: "Me, jumpin' up and down, I'd black both my eyes!"

★ Mona:"I can't be a ballerina now, I'm too top heavy. I have a hard enough time, juggling these things around now!"

Bibliography

★ Hall, Carol. Vocal selections from ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Melville, N.Y.: MCA Music, 1979.

★ King, Larry L. and Masterson, Peter. ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. Music and lyrics by Carol Hall. ''French's Musical Library.'' New York, N.Y.: S. French, 1978. ISBN 0-573-68111-2

★ King, Larry L. ''The Whorehouse Papers.'' New York: Viking Press, 1982. ISBN 0-670-15919-0

Discography

★ ''The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'': original cast. Audio CD. MCA, 1997. MCAD-11683; MCA-3049.

★ ''The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas'': Music from the original motion picture soundtrack. Audio CD. MCA, 1987. MCAD-31007

★ ''Best Little Whorehouse in Texas'': New cast recording. Audio CD. Fynsworth Alley/Varèse Sarabande, 2001. 302 062 117 2.

External links

★

★

★ The Chicken Ranch set at Universal Studios Hollywood