THEATER REVIEW : ‘Li’l Abner’ Pops With Spirited Corn

From the first whoop and holler in Buena Park Civic Theatre director Tim Nelson’s version of “Li’l Abner,” the message is to take nothing seriously. Done with the right attitude, this show’s brand of corn-pone humor can be fine, kooky fun, and that pretty much describes this revival.

The uncredited set is every bit as cartoonish as the Al Capp comic strip on which book writers Norman Panama and Melvin Frank and composer-lyricists Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul based this nearly forgotten 1950s musical.

Nelson’s ensemble jumps and squeals and sings with rambunctious glee, with the energy sustained by Saidell L. Preston’s very funny Mammy Yokum (Abner’s high-decibel mom) and John L. Moreno’s strong, charismatic Marryin’ Sam, who introduces the young-uns, and us, to Dogpatch U.S.A. founder Jubilation T. Cornpone.

In one of American musical comedy’s more insane plot twists, all these good old times, with everyone getting ready to snatch up a mate on Sadie Hawkins Day, turn surreal after the feds decide to use Dogpatch as a nuclear sacrifice zone for testing missiles during the Cold War. Not only that, but it seems that Mammy’s Yokumberry tree produces fruit that makes young men build muscles while stunting their romantic desires.

And, of course, Abner (Ryan Black), who’s full of Yokumberry juice, is desperately trying to elude the pursuits of pretty Daisy Mae (Tracy Rowe).

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Can all of this--and so much more--be fit into a musical? Not into a mainstream musical, which this is not. With their dizzying weave of subplots into subplots, Panama and Frank seem to be lampooning the very idea of musical-theater plots; By the time this show has a bunch of nerdy government scientists using buffed Dogpatch guys as guinea pigs, “Li’l Abner” isn’t even trying to make a point--unless the point is that the Cold War has been a big joke.

This version plays just right, as a lark, a chance for a company to do so much more goofy stuff than more respectable musicals would ever allow. More than corn pone, this is popcorn theater, and everyone in Nelson’s cast munches it down voraciously.

Everyone, that is, except the title character. Black doesn’t fit the role any better than his pair of jeans. He’s tall; he’s handsome, and he sings some of the show’s unexpectedly melodic tunes, well, melodically. But he doesn’t know how to play Abner’s dilemmas humorously, and he strikes us as being plenty amorous despite all that Yokumberry juice.

He also lacks any chemistry with Rowe, who seems to have popped full-bodied right out of Capp’s strip. Although “Li’l Abner” is full of deliberately dumbed-down songs, Rowe sings hers with serious purity and beauty, easily using her vocal gifts to overcome the house’s persistent miking problems.

Preston has scene-stealing moxie, but John Francis as Pappy Yokum gives her a fight. Moreno lets us know that his Sam really runs this hamlet, where he keeps ahead of the Joneses--Lincoln Jones as Available Jones and Monti Miller as swivel-hipped Stupefyin’ Jones.

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The bad guys (and gal) are wonderful fun: Dave Morris’ bulbous Gen. Bullmoose; John Phillip Sousa Jr.’s harrumphing Sen. Jack S. Phogbound; Tom Rupcic’s wild, Jim Carrey-like Evil Eye Fleagle and Sarah Elizabeth Smallwood’s femme fatale, Appassionata Von Climax.

This corn goes down nicely with some sharply delivered moments care of choreographer Jennifer Simpson, especially the Anicetos (Billy, Val and Vincent) along with Marty Silva as the singing, bopping government scientists.

* “Li’l Abner,” Buena Park High School Performing Arts Complex, Magnolia Avenue and Academy Way, Buena Park. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Ends Feb. 18. $5-$8. (714) 562-3844. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Ryan Black: Li’l Abner Tracy Rowe: Daisy Mae John L. Moreno: Marryin’ Sam Saidell L. Preston: Mammy Yokum Dave Morris: Gen. Bullmoose Lincoln Jones: Available Jones Monti Miller: Stupefyin’ Jones John Phillip Sousa Jr.: .Sen. Phogbound Tom Rupcic: Evil Eye Fleagle Sarah Elizabeth Smallwood: Appassionata Von Climax

A Buena Park Civic Theatre production of the Norman Panama-Melvin Frank-Johnny Mercer-Gene de Paul musical. Director-musical director: Tim Nelson. Choreography: Jennifer Simpson. Lights: Jim Book. Costumes: Carol Young. Sound: Jay Martin.