The Pioneer Theatre Company gave audiences a chance to see talented actors at the top of their game and an exciting new performance in the premiere of the all-female production “Cowgirls.”
This women-driven show is a musical comedy following the down-on-her-luck Jo (played by Leenya Rideout), who hires what she thinks is a country music trio in the hopes that they will save her father’s once-famous saloon, Hiram Hall, which is in a financial crisis. She discovers, however, that she inadvertently hired the classically trained Coghill Trio, who also happen to be down on their luck.
In addition to the fact that all of the actors are women, the behind-the-scenes of the show is also female-driven. Mary Murfitt conceived of and created “Cowgirls,” basing it on a book written by Betsy Howie. It was directed by Karen Azenberg.
The best part of this show is watching worlds collide as Mary Lou (Angela Chatelain Avila), Lee (Jessica Bradish) and Rita (Lindsay Zaroogian), the members of the Coghill Trio, try their best to switch from classical music to the country Cowgirl Trio overnight with varying degrees of success.
It is irresistibly entertaining to watch this trio conquer their preconceived notions about country music and lose themselves in the joy of learning something new. The result is a finely-tuned musical production that hits all the right notes and makes for an absolutely delightful evening of theatre as each member of this cast acts, sings, dances and even plays their own instruments on stage.
Karis Danish perfectly captures the heart and soul of a country girl with her character Mickey with a razor-sharp wit that she uses to deliver some of the best lines of the night. Zaroogian is arguably the best part of the production with her ability to sing and play the piano beautifully while still displaying comedic acting chops that make it easy to imagine her starring on a television sitcom.
It simply is a delight to see these talented actresses go from delivering a perfectly timed line to playing an instrument like a pro all in one sequence. While the show’s plot doesn’t have much to it and the musical numbers are a little bland, the talented and energetic cast keep the audience’s attention and enthusiasm.