I’ve never been a huge musical lover. There, now it’s in writing. I get tired of the old-timey songs about women being impossible and racial epithets being used casually. I hate the plots: man abuses woman, woman gets used to it, women and man fall in love. So now that I’m on a play selection committee, I’m working to get some new musicals into my fellow committee members’ hands. One script I purchased is Cowgirls by Mary Murfitt (music and lyrics) and Betsy Howie (book).
It’s the story of Jo, whose father just died and left her Hiram Hall, a sort of honky tonk bar. When Jo was a girl, her mother used to sing there, but when her mother ran off, her father said women were not allowed to sing at Hiram Hall ever again. Haha, he’s dead, now women are going to sing there. Jo’s two best employees just know they can sing at the grand re-opening and make enough money to save the old bar, but Jo is reluctant. She hires the Cowgirl Trio.
Except she misheard. They are the Coghill Trio, a group of classically trained women who decided to play together on a tour that summer instead of with important orchestras that traveled to Europe. The whole summer has been a mismanaged mess, so they want to make it work. The Coghill Trio learn the cowgirl life — its sadness, its poverty, its hard living, its willingness to skip some notes if you’re really feeling it — and play on opening night.
Cowgirls stars six strong women, which is a breath of fresh air, and has some fun lyrics. I particularly enjoyed the following from Jo’s two best employees:
Mo: Cheese fries, wise guys, demolition derby.
Mickey: Stir fries, nice guys do nothin’ fer me. / Never cut out gourmet recipes.
Mo: She prefers the cuisine at the Tasty Freeze.
Mickey: I like a car with lots of chrome.
Mo: I can make art out of Styrofoam.
Mickey: I ain’t got no cellular phone. / But don’t call me trailer trash.
Mo: She lives in a mobile home.
If you click this link and scroll down, you can hear some of the music.
Even the classically-trained trio have funny moments. One is seven months pregnant, and all the sad cowgirl stories give her “allergies.” They also dress up in fringe and giant Dolly Parton-esque wigs. In fact, Dolly Parton was in the original off-Broadway cast of Cowgirls. I hope I can convince the other committee members to vote for this musical! The only challenge: all the characters must also play instruments.
In the trio there’s a violin player who’s given a mandolin, a pianist, and a cello player who’s given a guitar. Mo plays autoharp, ukulele, and the bucket. Mickey plays banjo and tambourine. *sigh* I wonder what auditions would look like.
Grab the Lapels 
You make an interesting point about the storylines of a lot of the older musicals. I think I like musicals in general more than you do, but I agree with you that some really are sexist and have other -isms in them. This one sounds interesting, and as though there’ll be both wit and a real story.
LikeLike
We’re looking to put on a show that has a strong female cast that is older (like classic, and has good name appeal). Can you think of any?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm….I wish there were more. My first thought was Dreamgirls, but I don’t know if that’s classic enough for what you want. I feel the same way about Sister Act. I’ll keep thinking, and if any more come to me I’ll let you know.
LikeLike
I guess the theater did Sister Act two years ago, and for some reason the boss says that Westside Story is just on this side of modern instead of classic, so he must mean real old.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got it. I’ll keep thinking. I’m not optimistic, but I will keep thinking.
LikeLike
Thanks for the nice “shout out” for Cowgirls! You’re right…casting isn’t easy but it makes for VERY entertaining auditions 🙂 You’d be surprised how many female actor/singer/musicians are out there.
LikeLike
ERMEHGERD, Mary Murfitt!! What are you doing in this neck of the internet? 😀
LikeLike
Why can’t I like your comments, Melanie?! This prevents me from liking Mary Murfitt’s comment!! 😉
LikeLike
If you have straight WordPress, you can like my comments. You’re hosted through someone else, so it’s different. I can’t like comments on your site either. I think if I got to your actually webpage I might be able to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I mean. I know why I can’t like the comments on your site. That was rhetorical so I could share the love I feel that Mary Murfitt commented on this post. 😉 But you are always welcome to take me seriously. ❤
LikeLike
SUPER SERIOUSLY.
LikeLiked by 1 person
but can the actors *pretend* to play the instruments?
LikeLike
Lol, right?! But no, they are their own soundtrack.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know if it would count as classic, but Nine to Five has some great female roles and some great songs. My Fair Lady is about equal male/female if I remember right. And Mame was a lot of fun, with some strong female roles including the star.
LikeLike
I remember liking Mame, but the executive director said that he does not. We did my fair lady just a few months ago, and there’s this whole song about how awful women are. Good gravy! I’ve heard of 9 to 5, but I don’t know much about it so I’ll look it up! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there are some musicals I can’t get into. I love the music for The Phantom of the Opera, but the stroryline and some of the lyrics. Just, no. This one sounds fun and funny, though! I hope you get to do it and find a brilliant cast!
LikeLike
Yeah, there’s no crazy misogyny or stalking or abusive behavior. It’s just six women trying to save a bar that is important to the owner. I hope we do it too, but we’ll see what happens, and if we choose to produce it, I look forward to auditions! I feel you, though. I also love the music to Phantom of the Opera and have seen it twice.
LikeLike
Awhile ago I saw a filmed version of an American in Paris (well, I saw the ending!) and they managed to find a lead who could act, sing, dance ballet, and do pointe. So I guess you never know what kind of talents people have! Auditions should certainly be interesting!
LikeLike
I want to find people who can act, dance, sing, do needle point, and know how to use Google Suites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dislike musicals, however, some can be very funny
LikeLike
Oh man. Good luck with auditions. Is this one of those musicals where the performers are also the pit orchestra? Because… well, that’s going to be a challenge. That said, you’re in a college town, so I bet you could hunt people down with these skills! Or, depending on how complex this is, you might be able to teach some actors new skills. 😉 I believe in you!!!! Go Cowgirls! Go!
LikeLike
Lol! The actors would play on stage, as they are playing characters who are musicians! I’d like to hear more from my committee on what they think is possible given our acting pool, about which I’m still learning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooh. Let us know what they say about this! I am certainly intrigued. And hopeful! I’d totally come visit for this musical.
LikeLike
AH-mazing! I just have to convince the rest of the committee that of our four precious musicals spots, Cowgirls deserves one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That does sound challenging with the need for actual musicians. But it sounds like such a fun play!
LikeLike
Indeed! It’s lady-driven.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does sound interesting. I appreciate a story that has a message and is not just about signing.
I am still thinking about musicals that are “old” and have a message. How political are you happy to go? For example Hair may be a bit too much for some especially around the war messaging etc.
LikeLike
I think Hair isn’t old enough for what we’re looking for. Something golden age to make a certain type of patron happy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, it got even more difficult. Ok, back to the drawing board! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person