I went to Smyrna’s Lamplighter Theatre Friday night, Sept. 28, not knowing what really to expect. I figured in my mind an old small church building (it does house an Assembly of God) with curtains hanging on clothesline wire and old wooden pews.
What I got blew me away. Smyrna’s best kept secret needs to advertise in Murfreesboro a little more. A new modern brick facility with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, an orchestra pit, huge lobby and a seating capacity of 450 absolutely blew me away.
Even more convincing, this was the fourth show and this production was sold out!
Theatre patrons of all ages were enjoying, as I did, a most wonderful night of Guys and Dolls. With Greg Wilson directing, who made a special effort right before the show began to come introduce himself to me, this splendid play was in every way three hours of pure entertainment.
The original play was on Broadway in the fall of 1950 for over 1100 performances, and it has not lost its luster or delivery.
Nathan Owen as Sky Masterson, Steve Burkett as Nathan Detroit, Miss Catherine Birdsong as Sgt. Sarah Brown, and Miss Arwen Jones as Adelaide were most enjoyable to watch, all four being professional, comical, believable, and very talented.
The ensemble of guys, dolls, crapshooters and save-a-soul missionaries were remarkable, their timing and blocking, and choreography being nearly perfect. There were almost 50 actors onstage in all, and I give kudos for this fine piece of work.
What struck me as well, was the live orchestra between the patrons and the stage and ear-to-mouth cordless mikes, that the main characters had, that made the voices and songs impeccable.
Mr. Wilson and Guys & Dolls: I loved you a bushel and a peck!
The very next night took me to the Theatre at Patterson Park, where George W. Manus Jr. and Raemona Little-Taylor had a very inviting mixer, with hors d’oeuvres, cold beverages and music. The Patterson lobby was filled with actors and those involved in the theatre in town, including guests from Murfreesboro Little Theatre. The two-hour event was most pleasant and entertaining, with stage music provided by Jamie Patterson, Brittany Motsinger and Danny Ray. Several kids from Patterson’s November show, Charlotte’s Web were there, and I was fortunate to meet Tony, Dominic and Gina Barkaszi, who will be in a one-act play called Diaries of Julietta Charming during Charlotte’s Web. The amazing part is, Miss Gina Barkaszi wrote and will be directing this play. She is 13.
I look forward to seeing both of these plays in November.
Next season, the Theatre at Patterson Park and Murfreesboro Little Theatre will be doing Trading Spaces. I will, for the time being, leave you guessing on that one, but I think it is a fine piece of craftsmanship and business on those two stages.
I left Patterson Park to head to the Tucker Theatre at MTSU, where again, I did not know what to expect as this was an outdoor production.
Mother Courage and her Children played in the corner courtyard (affectionately known as “The Ring”) of the Tucker, to an audience of about 130 in the second weekend for this show. Again, I was taken aback with the huge crowd.
Leah Fincher as Mother Courage, Daniel T. Joyce as The Chaplain, Justin Bourdet as Eilif, and Ashley Murrell as Kattrin made up the most talented and wonderful actors, rounded up by about 15 other exceptional cast members. I was glad to see Zack Pierce in this play, he was great in Godspell several months ago, and did a great job on this “stage” as well.
The lighting was perfect, as was the off-stage sounds of gunfire, church bells, etc. I give great commendation to these actors for their professionalism during what I consider adverse conditions, as they had to fight the announcer at the football stadium, sirens, catcalls from red homeboys in loud pickup trucks, and several nut cases that attempted to disrupt the spirit of a fine play toward the end. But, alas, the show must go on, and until the City of Murfreesboro builds us an outdoor amphitheater, I hope to see more plays in “The Ring.”
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Frankenstein Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Center for the Arts, Oct. 11 – 13 and 18 – 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.
Wait Until Dark The Theater at Patterson Park, Oct. 5 – 6 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 7 at 2 p.m.
