Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge is a musical based on the Irish classic Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge.
[1] All of the action takes place in a small mountain cabin (and speakeasy of sorts) belonging to J.M.
Late one night, Luther stops by to pay a call on Maggie, reporting that on his way he heard a strange fellow groaning in a ditch nearby.
The tired, dirty, and scared-looking young man says that he's a fugitive from the law, though he can't remember the word for what he's done.
At the climax of Clay's story about his newfound bravery, a sudden knock at the door scares him out of his wits.
A fierce battle ensues between the two women, with Clay eventually deciding the contest in favor of Maggie.
Angrily she chases the women off and scolds Clay, warning him that he'd best not be boasting of his crime: it'll get back to a lawman, and he'll be hanged for it.
Clay leaves to do his chores, and Maggie ponders her growing feelings for him, wondering whether he might be the Golden Boy for whom she's waited so long.
Luther tries to bribe Clay into leaving, offering him a First-Class Ticket on the next train out of town, along with various articles of his clothing.
The lawman enters and Hazel tells him that he won't find any moonshine around these parts.
As the lawman tells the story of the son's treachery, he becomes more and more agitated, until at last he pulls off his hat to reveal a bloody head wound.
But Hazel, with the help of a couple of local boys, is able to subdue Leroy, ply him with moonshine, and convince the vengeful father that That Ain't Him.
Luther tries in vain to persuade Maggie from her decision, and appeals to J.M., reminding him of all the livestock he'd be getting into the bargain.
Having now witnessed a murder first-hand, the locals begin to turn on Clay and start to talk of lynching.
(West of Where I Been) Maggie considers, and then sadly slips a rope over Clay as the lynch mob tries to drag him out of the cabin.
He tells the stunned locals that nobody's gonna hang his boy; he's coming home a hero.
Clay leaves, and Maggie realizes that she has lost her one true golden boy of the Blue Ridge.
(Finale) Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge premiered outside New York City on August 23, 2012 at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee.
Resident actor Greg Pendzick took the lead role and was nominated for his work by First Night Honors.
[2] The production received favorable reviews by Broadwayworld-Nashville, in part saying: "Fionte's ensemble of actors/musicians delivers the goods with big-hearted, expansive style, intelligently playing the comedy with more subtlety than expected.
Donald Frison's choreography seems inspired by both mountain clogging and high-Flying Musical theater style, which gives the show a lighthearted, sprightly spring in its step.