(11.22) How to describe “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”? The names behind the project suggest that this is a different sort of musical: Stephen King, John Mellencamp, and T Bone Burnett. Andy Smith of the Providence Journal spoke with one of the stars, Gina Gershon, making him the envy of all his hetero, and gay, male friends . . . and actually me.
“It’s not quite a Broadway show, not quite a radio play, not quite a rock concert,” she said in a phone interview. She said the band is on stage at all times, even when the actors are performing their scenes. (Mellencamp is not in the production.)
Gershon came to national attention in the so-bad-it’s-good Showgirls but worked her smoldering sexpot vibe to best effect in the under-seen movie Bound. (Warning to gardeners: the appearance of the Felco #2’s signals some serious pruning coming up.) Gershon also has decent comedic chops (Curb Your Enthusiam, Wilfred) and a great set of pipes. She co-stars in this production with Billy Burke (24, Twilight).
The play was written by King, with music and lyrics by Mellencamp, and music direction by T Bone Burnett, whom Smith describes as “the go-to guy for the presentation of American roots music.”
Tickets are $39.50-$79.50 and available at the PPAC box office, at 401.421.2787, or go here.
8pm, Saturday, November 22, The Vets, 1 Avenue of the Arts