MURRAY Desert Star is sort of unique in the dinner theater genre. They know very well what works well with them and they get it done well. They are creating an extremely well-oiled machine to make out family-friendly entertainment that keeps people finding its way back every year. Even over these lean times for most theater companies, Desert Start seems to be thriving by providing people what they desire. Their latest production, Goldilocks Capone and the Three Amigos is really a charming illustration of what they do best. The story is usual melodrama fodder along with a fun twist about the Three Amigos movie from the 80s. The Three Amigos, Rusty Spur, Catastrophe Jane and Deseret Jim, are saved to their approach to Murray for any restaurant opening once they encounter the Del Taco family. The Del Tacos are looking for heroes to assist them inside their fight Goldilocks Capone who would like their land for your water rights to assist her expand her West goldilocks wigs Wendover casino. The Amigos assume they are being inspired to perform their act, but soon realize the gravity of the situation and after a little initial misgivings, end up saving the day. The performances we got on Friday night were universally excellent. The performers are all talented and know their material. The night I saw the show the cast was Mary Parker Williams as Goldilocks, Corinne Adair as Chalupa Del Taco, Jack Drayton as Rico Del Taco, Justin Berry as Pepe Colada, Corey Brandenburger as Pancho Chico, Bryan Daley as Rusty Spur, Brittney Marie Nelson as Catastrophe Jane and Bryan Matthew Hague as Deseret Jim. There were some real standouts, though. Ms. Williams went effo
rtlessly from sweet and child-like to gritty villain. The Whatever Happened to Baby Jane look the type had worked wonderfully. And I do not know when it was just the wig, but she'd, sometimes, an eerie resemblance to Gilda Radner that did actually make her lines even funnier. The only downside was that throughout her solo number within the first act, most of her lyrics were completely lost. Not sure if it was a microphone problem, or poor sound mix. Ms. Adair was wonderful as Chalupa. She features a lovely voice (easily the most effective vocalist on stage) which really shines inside the olio (much more about that later). One other actors nobody impressed me were the duo of Pepe and Pancho, the shows narrators, and light-hearted henchmen to Goldilocks. Mr. Berry and Mr. Brandenburger were very likeable and fun. And they never lost the wry twinkle inside the eye at the audience because they totally storyteller-as-part-of-story bit. Costuming by Lynn Funk was fun and witty, especially Goldilocks aging child star look. Choreography by Julie Heaton was both fun and lively, fitting the design with the show. The past time I saw a show at Desert Star, my biggest complaint was with all the olio. It was good, nevertheless the performances are not energetic as well as the event seemed tacked on as this is what we should do. This time the olio was wonderful! It had energetic singing, dancing, and comedy bits that really hit the objective. This is Desert Stars patriotic olio, with an election year approaching, there have been some brilliant political jabs taken here. Ms. Adair did a spot-on impersonation of Sarah Palin. That alone would have been definitely worth the trip. The Romney/Huntsman duet to Anything You Are capable of doing by Mr. Berry and Mr. Hague also scored many laughs with the audience. Yes, Desert Star knows what works on their behalf. And it really works for me personally, too.