OPENING NIGHT OF THE IGUANA!

Top: Kristie Ohlinger and Tim Riggs as Hannah Jelkes and Lawrence Shannon.

Above, Kristie Ohlinger portrays Hannah Jelkes in EPAC's "Night of the Iguana." 

Below: Tricia Corcoran, as Maxine Faulk, pursues Rev. Lawrence Shannon, played by Tim Riggs.

I-GUANA SEE THIS SHOW, AND SO SHOULD YOU!!

Did you ever sit down to watch a play, and found yourself instantly transported into the world of that play?

That’s what happened to me earlier this week, as I watched one of the final rehearsals of Ephrata Performing Arts Center’s production of Tennessee Williams’ “Night of the Iguana.”

Though the air conditioning made the theater cool and comfortable, I instantly felt the heat, the humidity and the sea air as the actors conjured up a summer, 1940, day in the life of some troubled tourists meeting in the seedy Costa Verde resort in Mexico.

Wearing a rumpled white suit, Tim Riggs will make you feel the mental and physical exhaustion of ex-minister Lawrence Shannon, who has led a bus-tour group of griping Baptist biddies (and one sweet young thing) to the hotel.

Shannon, who has already been “locked out” of his former pastorate in Virginia and has been institutionalized for a breakdown, needs a sea breeze on his face and a long rest in a hammock. He’s dragging enough emotional and spiritual baggage to fill that tour-bus 10 times over.

But there’s no rest for the … wicked? … in this play. No one will let Shannon be.

Maxine Faulk (Tricia Corcoran), the pushy, earthy widow of Shannon’s old friend, is trying to get him into her bed in a most un-subtle fashion. Underage Charlotte Goodall (Hannah Smith) is also pursuing him relentlessly, while her guardian, Judith Fellowes (Elizabeth Pattey) browbeats him and tries to get him fired from his low-rent tour gig.

You’ll instantly feel how completely ex-minster Shannon is – like the titular, captive iguana in this play – at the end of his rope

When a destitute, unmarried artist – they called such ladies “spinsters” back then – named Hannah Jelkes (Kristie Ohlinger) and her elderly-poet grandfather, Jonathan “Nonno” Coffin (John Kleimo) check in, the wind shifts.

Characters connect and help each other examine their lives. Shannon is forced to confront his past, his future and his understanding of God.

This is among director Ed Fernandez’s favorite plays, and he’s wanted to direct it for a very long time. He’s clearly happy with how his cast is bringing his vision to life on the stage of the Sharadin Bigler Theatre.

The play is heated and intense, all right, but it’s also funny. Tennessee Williams really understood people – their joys, troubles and wounded psyches. The dude knew how to develop characters, and write dialogue that both wounds and tickles! And this great cast of EPAC veterans knows just what to do with Williams’ great gifts.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen “Night of the Iguana,” and I have only a vague recollection of how it ends. I still want to be surprised. So, I watched part of the rehearsal – the play is in three acts with two intermissions – and then went home early.

I want to experience “Iguana’s” ending when I can see the full production on its feet later this week.

This show will get under your skin. If you want to experience the world of “Iguana” – learn the characters’ secrets, woes, hopes and motivations as only Tennessee Williams could conjure them up – call the EPAC box office for tickets at (717) 733-7966. You can also order online on the EPAC Web site.

The show opens Thursday, Sept. 6 – hey, that’s tonight! – and runs through Saturday, Sept. 22.

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS!

All those who work for, perform for, volunteer for or enjoy the theater created by the Ephrata Performing Arts Center want to thank John and Mary Hayes from the bottom of our hearts. They’re sponsors for “Night of the Iguana.”


We also thank EPAC’s season sponsors, GreenMountain Cyclery and the Farrington family, and and BlueRidge Communications.

Without support of sponsors like these, EPAC would, quite simply, not be able to boast of such an extraordinary history of well-made, thought-provoking and entertaining theater.

Thanks, also, to Lily’s on Main, 124 E. Main St., Ephrata, which is sponsoring the opening-night after-party tonight. If you’re attending opening night tonight (Sept. 6), your ticket stub will get you into the party after the show. Meet the cast, and enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar and a light-fare menu.

EPAC also loves its loyal subscribers, who also help keep the place humming along.

The theater is always looking for new subscribers and new sponsors, but also for that extra, small donation from new and long-time friends.

Theatergoers’ budgets are tight, and, therefore, times are really, REALLY tough in the arts right now. EPAC can always use whatever support you can give, and will always be extremely grateful for it. Thanks!

THE ROCKIN’ UNDEAD

Speaking of support: EPAC is holding a really fun peer-to-peer fundraiser, called the Zombie EPAC-alypse Dance-a-Thon, from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at Lily’s on Main, 124 E. Main St., Ephrata.

Visit this page to learn all about how you can become a dancing fundraiser at this event, which benefits the theater.

There will be prizes for the top fundraisers, and a drawing for a prize among the first 20 people who register their fundraising pages.

You’ll learn the “Thriller” dance, enjoy an evening with people who love EPAC as much as you do, and help raise money to help EPAC continue its important work.

There will be more details in the next blog post.




--- Mary Ellen “Merv” Wright