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Unsinkable: Molly Brown Still Pleases

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: October 1, 2008

You can't keep a good woman down.

After almost half a century of entertaining audiences first on stage and then in the beloved film starring Debbie Reynolds, "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" is still an audience favorite.

That was reaffirmed when Reynolds did three shows at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre in Hudson last year. Her fans loved the clips of all of her old films, but "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" stood out.

"The audience went wild," recalled Matthew McGee.

That reaction did not escape McGee. He put the play on the Show Palace's roster for this season. The veteran Show Palace actor and director is directing the play, which will open Friday, Oct. 3, and run through Saturday, Nov. 22.

The play is the story of Molly Brown, whose impoverished beginnings cannot put a damper on the feisty spirit that leads her to the palaces of Europe and carries her through the sinking of the Titanic.

The play opened on Broadway in 1960 and was made into a movie starring Reynolds and Harve Presnell in 1964.

At a time when Hillary Clinton almost became the Democratic nominee for president and Sarah Palin has become the Republican vice presidential nominee, the play is still relevant in a country that respects spunky women, McGee believes.

Popular songs from its score include "I Ain't Down Yet" and "I'll Never Say No to You." All 13 of the production's dancers whoop it up in the rousing "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys."

Leads Katie Kerwin and W.C. Green are Show Palace veterans. Kerwin played the lead in the 2003 production of "South Pacific." Green was Emile in last year's "South Pacific."

Costumes for the 20-person cast are all handmade on site.

The lowdown

The Show Palace Dinner Theatre production of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" runs from Friday, Oct. 3, through Saturday, Nov. 22. Friday and Saturday performances start at 8 p.m. The curtain rises Sundays at 2 p.m. Dinner and cocktails are optional. Without dinner, show is $34.95, plus tax. Call 727-863-7949 to reserve tickets. The Show Palace Dinner Theatre is at 16128 U. S. 19, Hudson.

Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 or cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

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