Alaska cabin nite theatre: fabulous food, friendly fun.

• Author: Cutler, Debbie

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A trip to Denali wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater, themed to be a 1930s roadhouse, and located at McKinley Chalet Resort.

Doors open on time, with Fannie Quigley and cast leading the group waiting in a line outside in a chorus of "Ragtime Doll." Many of the entertainers are dressed in red, white and blue, old-time costumes. Some wear bloomers and flowing skirts. Others, jeans, flannel shirts and suspenders.

This family style buffet, held nightly at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., features gold rush-era tales of heroine Quigley, presented by a staff of talented performers, who sing, dance, tease, and kiss (for a dollar).

The all-you-can-eat buffet features Alaska salmon, barbecue ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans, salad, sourdough biscuits, tea and blueberry cobbler. Beer and other beverages are also sold at the bar. Guests are seated 12 to each hardwood table, complete with long wooden benches.

At the table are checkered red napkins that diners wave in unison when more food is desired. Servers, with names such as Alaska Amber, are flirtatious, energetic and fast on their feet when more food is needed.

There is piano music, Robert Service poems (sung of course) and lots of humor: "Get some liquor it makes the show go quicker."

Guests receive happy birthday, anniversary and honeymoon songs and cheers, and are also treated to a multitude of songs, such as "I've Been Working on the Railroad," "Coming Around the Mountain," "Shine on Harvest Moon," "Home on the Range," "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," and more.

The actual show is 40 minutes long, full of skits and more songs. The characters tell, with humor, the meaning of...