A Couple of Play Reviews

(First of all let me go ahead and say that I am more of an apologist than a critic.)

M*A*S*H -- Millbrook Community Players. April 25, 30, March 1, 2 at 7:30; Apr.26, 2:00 Robinson Springs Elementary School Auditorium, Millbrook, AL.

Stephanie McGuire directs this very family friendly play. It is a lot of fun, with some poignant moments. It minimizes the sexual induendos of the TV show, and presents a very neat story of the 4077th.

I am a little prejudiced, since our son Chris is in it, playing Walt, the Dentist who wants to commit suicide. He is his normal hilarious self (in my totally unprejudiced view). Michael Snead plays Trapper John; long and lankey Stan Rosenthal is Hawkeye; John Collier is Duke. All of them do a very good job at their respective parts. Daniel Harms is Radar Reilly, and plays the part to a tee. I have been privileged to work with all of these in the past. Of course Collier and his wife Rae Ann (Hotlips Houlihan), Chris and Daniel have all performed at Faulkner over the years. Snead along with Randy Burdick (Father Mulcahy) are regular attendees of Faulkner plays as well. Charlie Mulchahy is pleasently befuddled as Colonel Blake, and John Chain is every bit the general as General Hammond.

One pleasant surprise is Robbie Ricks as the young Korean houseboy who dreams of being a doctor. He plays the part with enthusiasm, and is the easy recipient of the audiences empathy. I don't mean to leave anyone out, but this is a large cast. They do a very fine job of entertaining the audience as an ensemble cast.

IF YOU CAN AT ALL, PLEASE TAKE AN EVENING OR AFTERNOON AND GO SEE THIS VERY GOOD PLAY. I believe that you will be glad you did!


A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. The Wetumpka Depot Players
April 25, 30, May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 at 7:30; May 3 2:00 at the Wetumpka Depot, Wetumpka, AL.

Under the very capable direction of Kristy Meanor and the always outstanding musical direction of Marilyn Swears, the Depot puts on an outstanding ensemble-driven show. Kristy has done a marvelous job of casting, and each performer perfectly fits the part assigned. Again, my personal prejudice comes through: Jason Morgan (Hero), Jennifer Haberkorn (Philia), Bill Nowell (Eronius), Kurt Geopinnger (a Protean - and about 5 other parts), and Kari Gatlin (a Geminae) are all folks that I have worked with at Faulkner, and I count each of them as a friend. But my estimation of the job they do in this play does not require any predujice toward them. They are outstanding. I have also had the pleasure to work with Steve Phillips (Lycus), Jacob Aldredge (Protean), and others in the cast as well. Tom Salter (Pseudolus) does an amazing job in a very pivotal role. William Harper (Senex) and Layne Holley (Domina) as a very unhappily married couple are hilarious as well. And a wonderful take-yourself-too-seriously comic job is done by Paul Travinsky as Miles Gloriousus.

I have to admit that I think that a newcomer to the Wetumpka Depot, (who graduated with my daughter Carol Leah from Prattville), Jonathan Conner very nearly stole the show. In a show full of wonderful and hilarious acting, he was outstanding as the very nervous Hysterium.

It is a wonderful show. It is not quite as family friendly as MASH, due to the storyline and the inherent innuendoes, but it is a great deal of fun, and well worth your time if you keep that in mind.

AGAIN, I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE AN EVENING OR AFTERNOON TO SUPPORT THE DEPOT, AND FOR A RIB-SPLITTING HILARIOUS TIME.