The Richmond Community Theatre is setting the stage for a new show, scheduled to open Nov. 1.
“Laundry and Bourbon” by James McLure is a funny and touching play about strong Southern women and their relationships, set in Maynard, Texas, in 1975.
“This is a story I think a lot of people in Richmond County will enjoy,” said Richmond Community Theatre Director Shelly Walker. “I think many people will be able to identify with the characters in the play. These actresses have been doing an outstanding job. It’s definitely a show people will not want to miss.”
Walker said the show is being performed by three talented Rockingham natives: Elizabeth Cahill as Elizabeth, Theressa Smith as Hattie and Wanda Bullard as Amy Lee.
The play unfolds this way: It’s hot as blazes and the air conditioning is out. Elizabeth tries to stay cool by hanging out the laundry and drinking cokes on the back-porch. She’s waiting for her husband Roy to come home. Ever since he came back from Vietnam, he hasn’t been the same. Sometimes, he takes off for days in his 1957 pink Thunderbird convertible. Instead Hattie, Elizabeth’s best friend from high school, arrives to escape from her unruly kids and have a bourbon and coke. Just as they are really getting into what’s happening in Elizabeth’s life, Amy Lee Fullernoy, a country-club flaunting, Bible quoting, “back-porch” Baptist shows up, and the bourbon, gossip and honesty really begin to flow.
Smith said this is her first play ever.
“I’ve loved it,” said Smith. “I’m already looking forward to the next one. This is a really good cast to work with.”
Smith said she and her character have some things in common, and are opposites in some ways, “which is exciting,” she added.
“She has something comedic to say about everything,” said Smith about her character. “I can’t wait ‘til opening night.”
“It’s really funny,” said Bullard about the play. She has been involved in the community theatre on and off for 10 years. She said her character is “self-righteous” and looks down on the other characters. “She married up and lets them know about it.”
Bullard said working with Walker has been a good experience, and that “she’s very interesting and knowledgeable.” According to Bullard, the play itself is timeless, as it shows how a wife and her friends discuss trying to support a veteran who bears war wounds. Bullard said the date could easily be changed to 2005, and could depict an Iraq veteran with the same problems.
The play will be presented Nov. 1 through 4 and again Nov. 8 - 10. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the play will begin at 8 p.m. On Sunday, the play will begin at 2 p.m. All tickets are $10 general admission. Season tickets are also still available for $25 per ticket.
Richmond Community Theatre is located in Rockingham on Harrington Square at 109 E. Washington St. Box Office hours for the general public will begin Oct. 29 and go through Nov. 10, Monday through Saturday 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. To buy tickets or make a reservation call the box office at 910-997-3765. All reserved tickets must be paid for at least one half hour before each performance.
Up next, Richmond Community Theatre plans to present “Dial ‘M’ for Murder,” a suspense thriller by Fredrick Knott. The show will take place Jan. 31 through Feb. 9, 2013. Auditions will be held Nov. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. The cast consists of five men and one women. Scripts will be available to read beginning Nov. 5. Call the box office to check out a script.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
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