Baby Ruth
by Michael Dresdner
L to R: Diana George, Jill Nicole Heinecke, Ellen Peters, Neicie Packer
Photos by DK Photography
Tomorrow is the opening of Second Samuel, directed by Chris Serface, and playing at Tacoma Little
Theatre. Don’t tell anyone I told you, but tonight
there’s a free preview for those in the know (or in the red.)
I’m not going to review this play. I can’t. I’m in the cast,
so it would not be ethical for me to tell you how good (or awful) it is.
However, my primary job as a reviewer is to give you enough information about
the play itself to help you decide if it is the sort of thing you would enjoy
(or hate), and I can still do that. Here goes.
L to R: Jimmy Shields, Bob Yount
Contrary to what the name might suggest, this is not a religious
or biblical play at all, but a surprisingly funny day-in-the-life glimpse of a
clatch of folks who’d fit in perfectly in Mayberry RFD. Second Samuel is the
name of the town, and it’s a little slice of heaven, but with a teasingly
delicious twist.
Barely 90 minutes long, the play is like a Baby Ruth candy
bar; short, sweet, and chock full of nuts.
L to R: Neicie Packer, Ellen Peters, Aaron Mohs-Hale, Jill Nicole Heinecke
Nuts, you say? Yep, just look at the character names: Mozel,
Mansel, Marcella, Ruby, Jimmy Deanne (female!), June (male!), Frisky, Omaha
Nebraska, US (pronounced ‘you ess,’) a doctor named (wait for it…) Doc, and a sweet,
mentally slow youth called B Flat, who, as the play’s lead and narrator, neatly
threads together both the story and the town.
It’s 1949 in a small Georgia burg where all the women hang out
at the beauty parlor and the men at the Bait and Brew. Miss Gertrude, beloved
by everyone, has just died, and warmth and caring flood the stage, mitigated only
by the ever present comedy.
L to R: Bob Yount, Marc Carvajal, Kerry Bringman, Tom Birkeland, Jimmy Shields
There’s a challenge they must deal with, of course. There
always is. This one shakes up the close-knit little town’s core beliefs like
one of James Bond’s martinis, but they deal with it just like everything else;
with way more wit and humor than a small hick town had oughta be able to
muster.
Back row: Mansel, Marcella, Jimmy Deanne, US, Omaha Nebraska, Frisky
Front row: June, Ruby, B Flat, Mozel, Doc
The play’s ultimate message, though, is one of understanding
and tolerance, wrapped up and delivered as neatly and quickly as an after
school special, albeit with more exclamation points.
As I said, I can’t tell you to go see it (remember – ethical
considerations) but IF you decide to go, here’s a few bits of production values
to be on the lookout for.
Walk around and look at the set designed by Lex Gernon, built
by Blake York, and painted by Maggie Knott. Make note of the lighting (very
important) by Chris Serface, sound by Stacia Russell, who is also the stage
manager, and Michele Graves’ costumes, which may start a trend to make overalls
the next de rigueur hipster togs.
L to R: Michael Dresdner, Tom Birkeland, Kerry Bringman, Jimmy Shields
And before the play starts, walk close enough
to the stage to look at the props by Jeffery Weaver, including my favorite, a
period box of Baby Ruth candy bars. (Yes, they actually have real Baby Ruth
candy bars inside the wrappers, and there’s a few half eaten ones inside the
dressing room too.)
Ok, that’s all I can say. You’re on your own now, but if you
do come, let me know what you think.
Second Samuel
Jan 22 to Feb. 7, 2016
Tacoma Little Theatre
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