"WHO SHOT JUANITO BANDITO? REIMAGINED," through Sept. 6; Pickleville Playhouse, 2049 S. Bear Lake Blvd., Garden City; $14.50-$19.50 (435-946-2918 or picklevilleplayhouse.com); running time 2 hours 10 minutes (one intermision)
GARDEN CITY — The Bandito hasn't changed much.
He's just as funny and just as entertaining as he was several years ago when T.J. Davis first created the incorrigible, crazy, "semi-fictional Spanish-speaking" character he continues to portray.
He's still sporting a handlebar mustache, an engaging grin and an insane attitude.
He mangles his English and Spanish and fires his cap gun when he loses his temper.
He picks on people in the audience; he took $5 from one lady only to present it to a thrilled child later.
He's alternately ruthless and sweet, taking the time to worry about the seven unborn kids who won't have a father if he shoots the deputy but convinced that it's his job to rob banks. "It's my profession, so I say, shut your face!" he says as he counts his money: "$97,000 and $5 from Tania."
He sends his fellow actors into fits when he goes off-script and then skillfully pulls everybody back after they all start making up their own stories.
He manages to be a bad guy who is loved and cheered on by the audience.
He's a talented genius.
And this show, while it follows the original plotline in theory, takes off in all kinds of dancing, joking and singing directions. There's a little rap, a little strobe lighting, a little tap-dancing and a lot of sheer fun.
Jordon Todd Brown adds greatly to the hilarity as he plays off of Davis as Big Guns Bo Garrett. Brown is fairly nuts on his own, willing to do and say just about anything.
Juanito Bandito is trying to figure out why the show is called "Who Shot Juanito Bandito?" and why anyone would want to do that. "I have three words to say about that," he says. "What the heck?"
He's sorting it out while a big city reporter (played winningly by Whitney Hatch) is trying to track him down for a scoop. She falls for Sheriff Jake Lawson, played by Tony Carter, but has to keep ducking advances from Big Guns, who won't take "No way!" for an answer.
Meanwhile, Maxine (played by Whitley O. Davis) and Steven (played by Derek Davis) are trying to support Bandito without getting shot for messing up.
Each character gets his or her moment in the sun: Whitley O. Davis decides not to laugh like a girl any longer; Lawson is periodically dealing with a bullet in the foot; and Brown insists he's not short, he's "fun-sized."
The one-liners just keep coming, and it seems there are no real rules for the comedy. For instance, when the Bandito is in the stocks, he easily slips his hands out to gesture when he needs to make a point.
Parts of the show poke fun at LDS culture, including when caffeinated drinks are poured into a punch bowl and when "Choose the Right" is played in place of the traditional wedding march. But there's nothing offensive or that would be inappropriate for families.
This fun, silly show wanders a bit toward the end, but it doesn't really matter by then.
For sheer humor and belly laughs, "Who shot Juanito Bandito? Reimagined" is a winner.
Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with more than 35 years' experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com.
Email: haddoc@deseretnews.com