Tennessee Premiere of a Beautiful Southern Comedy plays through May 2
The
Cumberland County Playhouse opened the Tennessee professional premiere of First
Baptist of Ivy Gap, a beautiful southern comedy by Ron
Osbourne, on Saturday, Jan. 27.
“This is a wonderful new play with humor
and heart, about
Tennessee church women,” notes director Abigail Crabtree, as she prepares
the cast for the premiere in the theater’s cozy Adventure Theater. Resident
company members Carol Irvin, Patty Payne, Summer Dawn Wallace, and Weslie Webster
are joined by new company members Karen Burns and Leah Jennings as small-town
Tennessee women during World War II.
First produced at the famous Barter Theater last year, the play broke
attendance records at the Southwestern Virginia Theater, according to
playwright Osbourne.
“As often happens, we received a letter from the
playwright about the show,” explains CCP Producer Jim Crabtree. “I
was immediately intrigued, called Ron at his home, and he sent me a copy. Both
Abby and I knew right away that it tells a story that we want to share with
our audience.”
In Act I, the women of Ivy Gap gather at First Baptist to roll bandages
and plan the church's 75th anniversary. Overseeing things is Edith (Patty Payne),
the pastor's wise-cracking wife who dispenses Red Cross smocks and witty repartee
to Luby (Carol Irvin), whose son is fighting in the Pacific; Mae Ellen (Karen
Burns), the church's rebellious organist who wants to quit but hasn't the courage;
Olene (Summer Dawn Wallace), who dreams of a career in Hollywood; Sammy (Leah
Jennings), a shy newcomer with a secret; and Vera (Wesley Webster), an influential
Baptist with a secret of her own. When Luby learns her son has been wounded,
she confounds the others by blaming the vulnerable Sammy.
Twenty-five years later, our "First Baptist Six" reunite. Back to reconcile with Luby - whose son died of his wounds - is Sammy, whose own son is now in Vietnam; and Olene, whose flashy show business career will set the town on its ear. There to welcome them are Vera, her secret still safe; Mae Ellen, still rebellious and still looking for an escape; and Edith, whose biggest challenge isn't the church's upcoming centennial but revelations that shake relationships formed over a quarter of a century. With humor and pathos, these six very different women find comfort, forgiveness and redemption in each other. A warm and family-oriented story about six strong and resourceful characters that is very funny, all the more because it relies on deep human emotions to bring forth the humor, FIRST BAPTIST OF IVY GAP is winner of multiple playwriting awards.
Sponsored by Mariner's Pointe Resort, the Playhouse production runs through May 2, and features scenery and costumes by resident designers John Partyka and Renee Luttrell. Tickets are $23 Adults, $22 Seniors, $20 Groups (15 or more Adults/Seniors), & $13 Kids/Students. They can be purchased from the Playhouse Box Office at 931-484-5000.
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"will be compared to Steel Magnolias, but forget steel; these mountain magnolias are pure gold" humor, drama, warmth and six of the most wonderful characters you'll see - tasty comfort for the playgoer's soul." Bristol Herald-Courier
"has drama, tragedy, love, loss and redemption with plenty of comedy too." Whatshappeningdayton.com
"A beautiful Southern comedy" will keep you in stitches beginning
to end." Elizabethton Star
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