Left to right, Faith Hastings, Alyssa Fox, Lewis Beckley, Erika Rowe, Jason Bartz, Wendy Heidrich, Dianna Diatz, David Randle, Lois Stephenson, Luke Randle, and Jessica Magno.
The three-act drama, “Picnic,” by William Inge, presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Services, Inc., opens with the Newtowne Players (NTP) at The Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park Friday, April 17 and runs through Sunday, May 3. A special performance for the Sponsor’s Open will be held on April 16.
Directed by Josh Logan, PICNIC premiered on Broadway in 1953. Logan subsequently went on to direct the 1955 movie version which starred Kim Novak as Madge and William Holden as Hal. This play was notable for the Broadway debut of a newcomer, Paul Newman, who first played the role of Alan while understudying, and eventually taking over, the lead role of Hal.
The setting is of neighboring backyards in a small Kansas town in the 1950s. It’s Labor Day weekend, and everyone is busy preparing for the annual picnic. Events of the story unfold in chronological order. The playwright was concerned with focusing on society and how it affects his characters, employing a script that makes use of colloquialisms and slang to reflect realistic language. All the women in the play are lonely and looking for perfect relationships, with pervasive themes of youth and beauty—and their loss—running throughout the storyline.
The NTP’s award-winning director Lisa Gregory has assembled a unique cast. Each member possesses a diverse set of skills and experience. Many of the actors bring a wealth of thespian credits to Picnic. Several of the actors are brand-new to theatre— not only to the NTP stage, but to performing anywhere.
Gregory has a theatrical background encompassing over 25 years and 35 productions on both sides of the curtain, and she is the founder of the annual one-act play festival known as Watermelon, Inc. She has tapped into this vast experience to bring the Picnic characters vibrantly to life on the Three Notch Theatre stage.
The mood is set immediately as the lights come up on Act I and the audience is given its first glimpse of the family backyards, evoking an aura of nostalgia. We meet Bomber (Luke Randle, a 14-year-old Chopticon High School student making a fine impression in this, his NTP debut) who has made his entrance on a bicycle to visit Millie, one of Flo’s daughters. We quickly learn that Millie is the “smart daughter,” always reading, always studying, and Alyssa Fox (a veteran of NTP and Sotterley Ghostwalks), shows great maturity and thoughtfulness in developing this character.
Other colorful family members, friends, and neighbors gradually are introduced. Quirky Mrs. Potts (Dianna Diatz) is the next-door neighbor—stage left—whose property encompasses one of the adjoining backyards. Endearing Ms. Diatz practically steals the show with her comic delivery and observations on life in general as she interacts with the rest of the cast. Ms. Diatz has portrayed historical characters. She is an artist and photographer.
Flo Owens owns the house stage right and rents out rooms. She is constantly trying to re-assure both her daughters that she truly loves them and does her best to be as good a mother as she can to girls with such different personalities, needs and desires. As Flo, Wendy Heidrich gives an accomplished, commanding performance. Ms. Heidrich is the 2014 winner of the NTP Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Barefoot in the Park. This is her last role with NTP before moving to Boise, Idaho this summer.
There is a lot of talk about Flo’s older daughter, Madge, the “pretty one” and the entrance of this character is highly anticipated. We have already learned that she has held the title of Neewollah Queen (that’s “Halloween”, spelled backwards – check it out). As winner of the local beauty pageant, actress Erika Rowe does not disappoint. She gives an introspective interpretation as Madge, while employing subtle, natural, non-verbal behaviors which indicate her conflicted feelings. Erika has recently moved to Southern Maryland. Although she is a newcomer to the NTP stage, she has previous high school and community theatre roles to her credit.
What each of these women desire, however is a man.
Madge has a boyfriend, Alan. Will he marry her? He’s going back to college in the fall. Lewis Beckley, as Alan, participated in theatre at Great Mills High School and Picnic marks only his second acting appearance. He gives a completely sensitive and believable performance as Alan.
But it is Alan’s former frat brother, Hal, who grabs the attention of all the females in this story. Hal had a football scholarship to college, and according to one of the character’s assessments of him, he could have been All-American had he just bothered to study. Hal has been hired as a handyman by Mrs. Potts and spends a lot of time crisscrossing the stage shirtless, to the admiration of all the women. He’s had a troubled life and a rough childhood but somehow it is arranged for him to escort Millie to the town picnic. Alan hopes to take Madge out for a boat ride after the picnic, but emotions shift once Hal meets Madge.
Jason Bartz, playing the lead role of Hal, has the shortest entry in the program’s cast bios, only 2 lines in length, just long enough to state that this is his first acting role ever. In light of this information, Mr. Bartz gives a truly amazing performance in the pivotal role of Hal and has just the right amount of swagger and sex appeal to be convincing, justifying the onstage attention of the ladies. He is likely to be a welcome addition to the NPT stage in future roles as he continues to sharpen and craft his acting skills. Kudos to Mr. Bartz for stepping up to the challenge of this demanding role.
During Act I we also meet the older schoolteacher, Rosemary (Lois Stephenson), who lives upstairs at Flo’s, and her younger colleagues, Irma (Faith Hastings, who has been acting since kindergarten). and Christine (NTP veteran Jessica Magno, recently seen in Godspell). Irma has been to the Stork Club on a recent trip to NYC and regales the friends with her stories. The roles of Irma and Christine are perfectly cast and both Faith and Jessica give effervescent performances, bubbling over with charm and excitement. Ms. Magno mentions in the program notes that her favorite line of script is, “Girl, in one afternoon I feel like I’ve known you my whole life” which she delivers quite sincerely, as the person she is addressing onstage (Rosemary) is her real-life mom.
Act I ends with a piano version of the ballad “When I Fall in Love” playing on the soundtrack as Madge remains alone onstage, listening to a distant train whistle.
After intermission, Millie practices dancing solo. She definitely is feeling pretty in her go-to-picnic dress. She asks advice from other characters for making small talk in preparation for her upcoming swimming date with Hal while Madge continues to be frustrated by being known only for her beauty. Rosemary, Irma and Christine return after having attended a luncheon.
And we meet Rosemary’s date, Howard.
Subtle lighting (designed by Lisa Gregory) effectively depicts twilight, then sunset and finally, the night sky dotted with stars as Howard shares his flask with Hal. To Rosemary’s great concern, liquor is against the law in this state and she fears word will get back to the school board, but she samples a swig or two herself.
Couples pair off to practice dancing until at last Madge and Hal find themselves together.
Rosemary has too much to drink and realizes that Millie’s been sneaking too many sips from the flask. Millie becomes very sick while Rosemary gives Hal a piece of her mind, and then expresses remorse to Howard. She feels she’s no longer young and asks Howard to drive off with her for the evening instead of going to the picnic.
As the others leave for the picnic, Madge and Hal find themselves alone again and shyly begin to confide in each other as the chemistry between them builds. They leave the stage together— but not to attend the picnic—as Act II comes to an end.
The action proceeds directly to Act III without intermission as Rosemary, beautifully dressed in blue, and Howard return from their date. Howard is in a hurry to get back to his out-of-town business but Rosemary wants to go with him. She accuses Howard of leading her on and begs him to marry her in one of the play’s most poignant scenes. In this highly emotional sequence, Ms. Stephenson’s acting shows a stunning dramatic turn which tugs at the heartstrings—hers, Howard’s, and the audience’s. And here is another example of Director Gregory’s inspired casting in pairing Ms. Stephenson with David Randle as Howard. While a newcomer to the NTP stage, Lois has an impressive theatrical background as an actress, a director, and a playwright. David, exhibiting a fine speaking voice paired with good vocal projection, is a retired Navy captain and Junior ROTC instructor at Great Mills High School. He is participating here in his first venture into acting of any kind, and his bio states that he is thrilled to be in the same production as his son, Luke. Together, Lois and David create a special kind of onstage magic as the older couple, Rosemary and Howard.
After Rosemary and Howard exit, Madge and Hal re-enter, kiss goodnight, and then part. There is a brief blackout; night turns to morning. Having become completely absorbed in the emotional intrigue of each of these compelling characters and the situations in which they find themselves, the audience will find some reward in the final scene during which at least some of the complex dilemmas are resolved.
Another fortuitous casting choice has resulted in several of the actresses sharing roles. Vicki Powalisz, a veteran actress and stage manager with both CSM and NTP and a current history major at UMUC, will be alternating in the roles of Millie and Christine. For performances on April 17, 25, 26, 30 and May 1 Vicki will play the role of Millie and Jessica Magno will appear as Christine. On April 18, 19, 23, 24 and May 2 and 3, Alyssa Fox will take the role of Millie while Vicki will play Christine.
The production staff responsible for bringing the set and its characters to life includes JR Cook, assistant director/stage manager: a veteran actor and director with CSM and NTP; Thom Esposito, producer: NTP actor and director and current NTP facilities manager; Rick Thompson, sound designer: with his 10th NTP sound design, he is also a veteran NTP actor; Bill Armstrong, set designer, an NTP veteran known for his set designs of Dracula, Arsenic and Old Lace, Barefoot in the Park, and Little Shop of Horrors; Dave Kyser, scenic design/lead electrician/carpenter, award-winning NTP veteran; Diane Trautman, props master, veteran NTP music director, she is retired from St. Mary’s County Public Schools after 33 years teaching music at Margaret Brent Middle School; Joanne Fuesel and Stacy Reynolds Oosterink, costumers, both NTP veteran actresses themselves; and set dressers Linda Sanborn, Diane Trautman, and Leni Weisl, also an NTP veteran.
The Newtowne Players’ artistic director is Jennifer Carnahan. Technical supervisor is David V. Groupe.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 3:30 p.m. Adult general admission is $15, seniors and military tickets are $12, and tickets for children under 12 are $10. Thursday tickets are all priced at $10. The next production will be “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” directed by Michelle Friere, which will run July 10 – 26.
The Three Notch Theatre is located on S. Coral Drive in Lexington Park. For ticket information you may visit www.newtowneplayers.org or you may call 301-737-5447.
