In Branson, Missouri, the town called the “music show capital of the world,” the only way a show survives year after year is if it gives its audiences an entertainment experience that they will remember, share with others and return to see again. As Branson celebrates 50 years of live music shows this year, Presleys’ Country Jubilee, Branson’s first show on the Branson strip, has been doing exactly that for over 40 years.
This is the second in a three part series that attempts to chronicle exactly what happens between the time the curtain goes down one year and comes up the next to make sure that happens. In the first article entitled “Presleys’ goal is making each year’s show new, fresh and exciting” Steve Presley outlined the general planning process that takes place and said, “Show changes are always a given” and he could not recall ever starting a new season where the material in the show was not at least 50 to 60 percent different from the season before.
This article, based on a recent interview with Gary and Eric Presley, will discuss the specifics of how those changes are made. In real life Gary, “Herkirmer” in the show and Eric, “Cecil” in the show, are father and son. This father and son duo provides the dynamic and exciting comedy that has helped make the Presleys’ Country Jubilee the success it has been for so many decades.
Eric said that a large part of getting the content of the new show ready, especially from a comedy perspective, is deciding what to keep and what to change. There are some routines people just like so much they expect to see them from year to year. He said it is not uncommon to have people ask why they are not doing a specific routine anymore.
When asked what one routine they have done in the past that they would not consider doing a show without they both had different answers. Gary said this year it would be Eric’s routine involving “Cecil” swallowing a balloon because it has been such a crowd pleaser since he introduced it a couple of years ago. Eric said another one would be when Gary, “Herkimer,” comes out on the stage reading the “Enquirer” and interfaces with the “straight man,” the shows Master of Ceremonies, as he reads it.
Erick said he spends a lot of time going over old videos and audios of the show looking for something they haven’t used that might be just right for this year’s show.. He said that it helps him to study some of the old routines in terms of timing and crowd response.
When asked what percentage of the show is comedy they said they didn’t really look at it that way. Gary said the comedy is mixed into the flow of the show in a manner they hope will keep the audience, especially the kids excited and involved. Eric said it is very seldom that some sort of comedy doesn’t take place at least every two musical numbers and sometimes more often.
Gary pointed out that you never know how a new routine is going to go over until it’s tried on a crowd. He said if a singer does a song they will at least get some applause, but if a comedian tells a joke or performs a routine that doesn’t go well with the crowd, its total silence.
Obviously, Gary and Eric are the ones who work up the shows comedy, but it is the way it is integrated into the opening night performance that is unique. On opening night everyone is surprised even the band and the rest of the cast. Erick said the first time they see the new comedy routines for the show is on opening night with everyone else and “They’ll have no idea what we are doing until the curtain goes up that night.”
Gary pointed out that the band and cast will know what old routines they are going to do and where the all the routines will be performed in the show. They will however, not know the content of the new material until opening night, “That way,” he said, “We can get the casts unbiased initial reaction to the new material.”
In terms of developing the music for the new show Gary and Eric indicated that it’s pretty much a family affair. They get together about eight weeks before opening night and mutually decide on the music that they will start the season with. He indicated that, like with the comedy, there are favorites that the audience likes to hear and the challenge is to blend the new in with old. Once the music is picked they begin their individual preparation and move into the rehearsal mode.
Presleys’ Country Jubilee will open its 2009 Branson season on Friday, March 13 at 8:00 p.m.
