When I saw that “Dead Man’s Shoes,” written by Joseph Zettelmaier and directed by David Wolber, was taking place in 1883, in the middle of the Wild West, I was slightly skeptocal about whether I was going to enjoy this. Was it going to be like the lone cowboy movie that I’ve seen?
But as the show began I was delightfully surprised. Right off the bat it seems that this isn’t going to be an ordinary Western. Player 1 (Paul Hopper) and Player 2 (Maggie Meyer) start singing while an acoustic guitar is being strummed, not something that seems all that common in Westerns. Hopper and Meyer have great harmonies and the singing was a nice way to make transitions between the scenes, catching up viewers for anything they may have missed, especially in regards to a subplot that tends to fall at the wayside, only really making appearances at the beginning and the end.
The main plot is about two outlaws, Froggy (Aral Gribble) and Injun Bill Picote (Drew Parker) and ones search to find get vengeance for an old friend. Throughout the journey you see these two men go through their trials with each other and themselves but it’s also a sweet story of friendship and destiny, a major theme throughout, with many big laughs along the way.
Gribble’s Froggie and Parker’s Bill are like the Wild West version of the odd couple. As the saying goes opposites attract and these two definitely are, with little to no similarities between the two. But like all good odd couples they help each other grow.
You can’t help but love Gribble’s Froggie. He seems like that guy that almost everyone knows. Sweet, not the brightest in the bunch but has a giant heart, which Gribble makes clear that Froggie constantly wears on his sleeve. All he wants to do is open a restaurant so he can send for his mom and sister, who he hasn’t seen for some time since he was in the Army.
While Froggie is sweet and loveable Bill Picote is neither of those things at the beginning. But what I loved about Parker’s performance is that you learn to love the character, rather quickly, giving Parker a chance to show the audience how well rounded he is. He’s a man that’s been through a lot but that leads to him having the most growth during the show.
With a rough low baritone voice that sounds like Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry there is just something about Parker that makes you want to watch more. Never has the name Bill sounded so intriguing.
Even though Hopper and Meyer aren’t part of the main duo they play so many different characters during the show that it has to be discussed. Ranging from the town sheriff, to an Irish bartender and even a woman running what can only be described as a brothel you can tell that Hopper is enjoying the heck out his roles. Much like Hopper Meyer has a way of making of each of her characters very distinct, bringing something different to each of them, especially when she plays Martha, where Meyer gets a chance to show off her dramatic chops.
This is the type of show where not only characters are constantly changing but the emotions the audience goes through as well. One moment you’re laughing in hysterics and the next you’re trying to hold back tears, which just showcases how well a job Zettelmaier did writing it and Wolber did directing it. If you aren’t normally a fan of Westerns this is your chance to get on the horse and enjoy, because there are so many moments that make this much more than your run of the mill Wild West story.
*Contains mature language and themes
“Dead Man’s Shoes” is playing now until Feb. 26 at Williamston Theatre.
