Theatre

     Having directed a number of community theatre productions locally, I can confirm from personal experience that the highest demographic of people who show up to audition are older women.

    Unfortunately, roles for male actors tend to dominate the plays that are often chosen for local production. It can be heartbreaking to see so many talented people denied the opportunity to do their thing on stage.

    So, it is quite refreshing, that the Player's Guild of Hamilton has decided to stage a play with five older women in its cast. The play in question is THE SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY, a kind of Southern mashup between the GOLDEN GIRLS, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, and the JOY LUCK CLUB.

    I think secretly many actors secretly wish that they might get the opportunity to channel the spirit of Blanche Dubois! And so, this play, which is being directed by David Dayler and Connie Spears, is perhaps just the opportunity!

    According to the blurb, "In this delightful, laugh-a-minute comedy, four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by Fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years. Over the course of six months, filled with laughter, hilarious misadventures, and the occasional liquid refreshment, these middle-aged women successfully bond and find the confidence to jumpstart their new lives. Together, they discover lasting friendships and a renewed determination to live in the moment—and most importantly, realize it’s never too late to make new old friends. So, raise your glass to these strong Southern women and their fierce embrace of life and say “Cheers!” to this joyful and surprisingly touching Jones, Hope, Wooten comedy!"

    The cast for this Hamilton production includes a few local favorites that I have admired for a long time. Gail Edwards, Deb Dagenais, Maria Hayes, Carolyn Marshall and Tina Hardwell will bring these characters to life, that is sure to create much laughter, balanced of course with some sad truths.

    As always, I think it is such a great thing to have female-centric theatre hitting a local stage. As I have mentioned before, it is often a rare thing, for local performers to get to do the things that they love on stage. I always point out that the word amateur, means doing something for the love of it. And so, I expect this production will be a celebration of life and love, and of course the consumption of much wine.

    Typically, on stage of course, it isn't actually wine that everybody is drinking but rather grape juice. However, if you attend the performance on June the 6th, there will be a wine tasting going on in the lobby before the show. The wine will be provided by the Sue Ann Estate Winery. Hopefully the actors get to have a sip or two as well!

    Anyway, this should be a great show, and I encouraged local Hamilton theatre goers to check it out.

    As the closing production of a season, of course the opportunity will be there to subscribe to the upcoming roster of plays on offer for next year. So don't forget to pick up a subscription brochure when you attend the play.

THEATRE