“Whorehouse” comes to town

Don’t expect a show with explicit sex - this is a fun musical that deals with a raunchy subject within the boundaries of taste - well almost!

Set in the late 1970s, and partly based on a true story, the show introduces us to Miss Mona, the wordly-wise but good-hearted proprietor of a small-town brothel affectionately known as the Chicken Ranch. As the story opens, Mona is taking care of her girls and pursuing her friendship with local sheriff Ed Earl Dodd.

In the meantime there is trouble brewing in the shape of crusading television reporter Melvin P. Thorpe. He decides that it will be in everyone’s interests (especially his own) to make a public issue of the illegal activity at the Chicken Ranch, with dramatic, hilarious and far-reaching consequences for all.

The original Broadway production of the show ran for 1,584 performances, received rave reviews and won two Tony awards. It is full of memorable characters and packed with witty, vibrant country-flavoured numbers and gorgeous ballads. A great night out is guaranteed.

Leighton Masqueraders have been performing in Leighton Buzzard for 29 years. The society was founded in 1982. They put on two musicals a year at the Leighton Buzzard Theatre, above the library in Lake Street. Summer shows are staged either May or June and the winter production in November.

The group’s publicity manager, Fiona Wilkins, said: “ This show represents something of a milestone for the Masqueraders as it is our 60th production. We are very proud of our long history but at the same time we like to ensure that the group is constantly changing and evolving.

“In recent years we have tried especially hard to offer our audiences a variety of productions, presenting shows from almost every decade from the 1930s (“Anything Goes”) right up to 2005 (“Acorn Antiques”).

“We were honoured to have Acorn’s author, the very famous Victoria Wood, attend the production. We work very hard to ensure our productions are as professional as possible. We pride ourselves on offering a West end performance at Leighton Buzzard prices!

“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is based on a story by Texas writer Larry L King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch brothel in the town of La Grange, Texas.

“On the face of it, the happenings in and around a ‘house of ill repute’ in a small Texas town may seem an unlikely subject for a stage musical but the show was a huge success”.

Whorehouse runs from November 23 to 26. Tickets from the box office 0300 300 8125.