Written by orange• August 10, 2025• 3:32 am• Laguna beach, Laguna Playhouse, Musical, Review, Uncategorized

Honky Tonk Angels @ Laguna Playhouse – Review

Photo by Jason Niedle, TETHOS

Written by Patrick Chavis

Honky Tonk Angels is playing now at the Laguna Playhouse, July 30 – August 17, 2025.

More lounge act than musical, this country western jukebox may not be the best material for such a large stage, but the performers most definitely shine through — like angels!

Story:

This is a three-hander. The whole show is acted out and sung by these talented singers: Darcy Rose Byrnes (Darlene), Alexandra Melrose (Angela), and Shelley Regner (Sue Ellen). All of these characters are southern girls who grew up in small towns. They are very different women. Angela is a mother and homemaker; Sue Ellen is a very busy career woman in LA with multiple divorces, and Darlene is a young, kind-hearted girl from a coal mining town. Though very different, they each have something in common: a love for country music and a desire to sing it on stage. A chance meeting results in them forming the music group Honky Tonk Angels, and they are on the way to Nashville.

The cute, formulaic setup comes together quite nicely in the first act. However, the large stage doesn’t always benefit these performances. I could see this succeeding on a smaller scale. The music and the nostalgia of the tunes and the small cast lend themselves to a smaller stage or space. Plus, the movement and the choreography were passable at best. The sparkle comes primarily from the outstanding performances of these classic songs, and the fun crowd work from the actresses.

The show doesn’t have much to say or do. It doesn’t need to be two acts or this long, besides packing in more tunes.

Songs:

Nothing was more magical than “I Will Always Love You,” led by Darcy Rose Byrnes with support from Shelley Regner and Alexandra Melrose, a tune I could listen to on repeat. The vocals were tremendous, and there was just the right amount of twang.

“Paradise Road” and “Amazing Grace/Calling All Angels” were also highlights. All three of the performers give it their all during the entire show.

Set Design/Acting:

The stage and set design looked well-built and substantial and featured a lot of variety. There were beautiful, detailed backgrounds from set designer Stephen Gifford, but the thinness of this script limits it.

The spirited acoustic guitar playing from Byrnes is heard and felt throughout, in addition to her terrific vocals.

In the second act, there’s quite a bit of audience interaction that goes beyond the “Come on, everyone, let’s clap.” Dancing with audience members and other shenanigans were sprinkled throughout.

Full of nostalgia, cutesy attitude, and country western/Las Vegas sensibilities, Honky Tonk Angels might just be your ticket.