We all know that truth is stranger than fiction.  So, let’s start with the truth…

“Section 43.23 “Obscenity” of the Texas Penile Penal Code considers THIS to be a felony: ‘A person commits an offense if, knowing its content and character, he wholesale promotes or possesses with intent to wholesale promote any obscene material or obscene device.’” But wait!  There’s more!… Under provision F, “A person who possesses six or more obscene devices (AKA didoes or artificial vaginas), or identical or similar obscene articles, is presumed to possess them with intent to promote the same.”  Whoa!!!

Truth may be stranger than fiction, but it’s not always funnier. So, let’s talk about what really IS “funny”!… The musical comedy Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger, is hilarious. The show, written by Jenn Howd and Roz Mihalko and directed by Maggie Perrino, is now playing as part of the 2025 New York City Fringe Festival.  Based on the aforementioned real Texas law, Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger tells the tale of a grandmother and sex shop owner Virigina Gina (pronounced “JUY-nuh…), played by Lyd Noll, who comes face to face with some sanctimonious anti-sex (and anti sex-TOY) activists.  Ms. Gina’s antagonists include the aptly named Governor Killjoy (Matthew Graham) and his wife “Prudence” (Hope Pauly), some religious fanatics, and an over-eager Texas Ranger named Wolf Johnson (Brooks Hope), who eventually shows up at the door of GINNY DINA’S SEX TOY PLACE to entrap/arrest her.  Thankfully, the sex-positive forces are more than equipped to fight back… and their new hero is Gina’s grandchild: “Texas Annie: The Moan Ranger (!)”, played by Pearl Emerson.  All together now: “HI-YO, DILDO, AWAY!!” Our Annie, armed with a seemingly endless supply of toys, is joined by a few allies such as Dr. Joy Goodbody (Pauly again!), a sexually liberated nun named… Sister Christian (Rocco Arrigo), and a prophetic “spirit fleshlight” named “Rainbow” (Voiced by Maya O’Day). But of course, there has to be a love story… so, surely enough, things get sexy between Annie and Ashley (Noll again), and the two come up with a plan to spring Granny and to liberate the repressed residents of this Lone Star State dustbowl.  Will the powers of sex positivity prevail… or will this Texas town be doomed to death by sexual boredom?

Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger is jam packed full of deliciously dirty sexual double entendres, campy one-liners, outrageously over-the-top performances, and larger-than-life characters.  If you can admire such references as the “Alpha Eta Pia Chastity Club” and tongue twisters like “dildo distributing delinquent”, then this defiantly politically INcorrect show is for you. If John Waters made a musical, chances are it would like and sound a lot like this show. Yes, Virginia Gina, if I didn’t already tell you, this show IS a musical. The soundtrack is anything but a collection of throw-away songs, however; many of them are out-and-out bangers, from the first track Sex Toys and Texas to the grand finale The Second Coming… and a lot of great stuff in between. Learn to Love Yourself is the perfect ode to the empowerment of exploring one’s sexuality… and, today I hereby declare a new law: The audience favorite Every BODY is Divine should be mandatory on everyone’s current playlist for the second half of 2025 and beyond. Armed with a seemingly endless supply of costumes and wigs, this cast of eight actors and one puppet REALLY seem to be having a great time.  Their energy level is high enough to shake the tiny Under St. Marks Theatre from the (under)ground up. Forget “Whorehouses”…. This is “The Best Little Sex Shop in Texas”! You’ll laugh, you’ll sing along, and you’ll learn that “rabbit ears” are not JUST for old TV’s…. (Google it!)

Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger is presented as part of the 2025 New York City Fringe Festival with FRIGID New York at Under St. Marks Theatre, 94 St. Marks Place, NYC. Performances continue on Monday April 14th at 950pm and Friday April 18th at 810pm. Visit https://tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1090/ for tickets and more information!