reviews - HANDS ON A HARDBODY - Arizona Broadway Theatre

Eleonore S. Thomas (center) and Cast
Photo by Shari Corbett / Shari Corbett Photography

highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)

Click here for more information on this production that runs through September 24th.

"...Hands on a Hardbody...is a show with an interesting premise, a hard-working cast, and the creative use of a life-sized truck on stage. But it's also a musical with an only serviceable score and a slow and somewhat repetitive nature around the intriguing plot of contestants vying to win a Nissan truck. Fortunately, there are interesting and identifiable characters, people who are just trying to get by and achieve their version of the American dream, and a few tunes that will be stuck in your head for days. So, while it may not be a perfect musical, it makes for a fairly memorable production, due to the characters and interesting plot along with ABT's top notch cast and production....the musical follows ten down on their luck individuals as they take part in an endurance contest at a Texas Nissan auto dealership to see who can keep their hand on a truck the longest. The last person standing, who still has one of their hands on the hardbody truck, gets to drive it home. ...with such a large cast, the focus is placed on a few central characters. These include the villain of the piece, Benny Perkins (played by Justin Jutras), the man who won the competition previously. Jutras has the right commanding delivery for this man who is willing to do what he needs to do in order to win again, even intimidating the other contestants at times. ...Luther Chakurian does well as J.D. Drew, the oldest contestant, who sees winning the truck as a way to feel young again after recovering from a recent surgery...Other highlights in the cast include Eleonore S. Thomas as a deeply religious woman who believes God is working through her and wants her to win the truck. Thomas gets one of the big showstopping songs, "Joy of the Lord," ...Madison Cichon and Nick Hurm are winning as two young adults who find a mutual connection during the contest, and Johanna Carlisle and Rob Watson are hilarious as loudmouth contestant Janis and her loving and deeply devoted husband Don. Eddie Maldonado and Nick Moulton deliver well-nuanced portrayals of the young Hispanic veterinary student who plans to sell the truck to pay for his courses and the recently discharged marine who needs to prove himself, respectively, who encounter prejudice from the people around them. Laron Lee Hudson and Hannah Bentley provide powerful vocals and clear performances as Ronald, the sugar-loving, passionate man who wants the truck to start his own lawn service, and Heather, the young pretty girl who it seems will do anything to win the truck....The direction by Danny Gorman and choreography by Kurtis W. Overby focuses on not just having the truck be the focus of the piece, but finding an effective way to move it around and bring the individual characters into focus. Gorman's direction and his talented cast create many realistic and heartfelt moments....Hands on a Hardbody has its heart in the right place, and the dialogue and songs that are a blend of folk, soft country and gospel style fit the Texas characters fairly well. However, there is very little surprising in the plot, with many of the actions of the characters not very revealing....even with these shortcomings and the fact that the stories of the mostly poor characters are somewhat depressing, and predictable, the final song is uplifting and hopeful and one that will most likely be playing in your head for days. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)

"...the musical “Hands on a Hardbody”... has a low-key charm and a great blues/country/rock score ...Arizona Broadway Theatre’s production boasts a cast of powerhouse singers, from Laron Lee Hudson’s R&B raveup “My Problem Right There” to Eleonore S. Thomas’ roof-raising gospel number, “Joy of the Lord.” There isn’t a whole lot to the plot. Instead, the show serves up a series of character sketches..These are characters you want to root for — especially since they’re the kind of ordinary folks that never get musicals written about them. " - Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic (click here to read the complete review)