I t’s not everyday you can go to the stage theater in Murfreesboro, or in fact, anywhere in Middle Tennessee, and see an original stageplay, much less a good one.
But that happened last weekend with Tony Lehew’s “Everyday Heroes.” It was obvious Mr. Lehew had worked hard and thought deep on the nucleus of this event, and asking Wayman Price to direct it on the stage was in itself another spark of genius. Only Murfreesboro Little Theatre could have pulled a play of this type off, and the old log cabin looked, smelled and felt uncannily like an old speakeasy or tavern of ill repute.
Chris Todd played the bouncer, Olivia M. Scott played the bartender, Wayman Price played the owner of Hero’s Bar ’n Grill, Freddie Snell played Bill, Jon Coffey as Hank, Ben Hornsby as Slim, Steven Luster as Lyle, Robert McAdams as Jimmy, Deanna Payne as Stacy, Jamie Storvik as Sam and Sherry Sunday played Mitzi. Each character brought to life the makings of anytown’s local honky-tonk, and each did a superb job in bringing this bar to realistic life.
I do not want to give away any plots or characterizations to this marvelous play, as a little bird has whispered in my ear this production could be playing again in the Murfreesboro marketplace, and if you were not a patron the first time around, you will not want to miss it the second time. I will bet, however, this little jewel will not have a last call.
I raise my glass at this play, and ask for a second shot. The set and the lighting were very well done, and the production crew obviously had a fun time putting this one together.
The Golden Years
The Arts Center of Cannon County put on “On Golden Pond” the past few weekends, and this octogenarian warm and fuzzy production was no different than the other half dozen times I have seen it (or worked on it) through the years. This Ernest Thompson classic, however, brought in the blue hairs and follically challenged in droves and they obviously had a good time. Darrell Fulton played Norman Thayer Jr., and Faye Northcutt Knox played Ethel Thayer. The chemistry between these two was as good as Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn in the movie of the same name years ago. Bill White as postman Charlie Martin, Jackie Masiella as Chelsea and Warren Gore as Bill Ray were all good in their roles. However, I thought Brad McCrary was a little too big and tall to play 13-year-old Billy Ray; he just did not look right playing against the Thayers. He’s a good actor though; I think he got the part from looking at the credits in the crew . . . Mom and Dad did a lot of work on the set.
All in all, Mary Wilson did a good job of directing this show, and as I wrote earlier, the senior citizens of Woodbury liked it.
Looking Ahead
“Fat Pig” starts Oct. 17 at Murfreesboro Little Theatre. This is a story about a slim, male office worker who falls for an overweight librarian. This romantic comedy will be worth venturing into and is being directed by E. Roy Lee and Gary Parker. It runs for two weekends and promises to be a hoot. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Also starting tomorrow night, Oct.17, at the Bear Hollow Theatre in Monteagle is “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” running two weekends and being directed by George Manus Jr.; dinner is at 6:30 p.m., the curtains open at 7:30 p.m. The theater is at 11885 Hwy 41S. in Monteagle. The Saturday, Oct. 25, show is already sold out, so get your tickets early!
The MTSU Tucker Theatre begins “Suessical: the Musical” on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and runs for four nights. If at all near as good as the show Jesse Cannady directed earlier this year at Murfreesboro’s Center for the Arts, this production will be fun for the whole family. Curtains open at 7:30 p.m. each night.
George Manus Jr. invites anyone who would like to audition for any of the upcoming plays for the 2009 season at Bear Hollow Theatre in Monteagle to be at The Boro Book Store, 810 NW Broad St. in Jackson Heights Plaza, Monday and Tuesday night, Oct. 20-21, at 7 p.m. They are also looking for tech help. Call George at (615) 869-8617 for more on this opportunity.
SPIRIT Investigates Center
The Society for Paranormal Investigations & Research In Tennessee (SPIRIT), Murfreesboro’s premier professional ghost hunting team, will be having a ghost investigation at the Center for the Arts on Friday night, Oct. 17, after the show, “The Reluctant Dragon.” The team is also working with Murfreesboro Little Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 29-30, as they will be telling ghost stories and giving a haunted tour of the 70-year-old log cabin theater to everyone who wishes to come see and hear the true hauntings of MLT.
See ya at the show.
