PERFORMING ARTS
By Liz White
“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.” Devious Plotting Lillian Hellman’s enduring drama, “The Little Foxes,” was named after the above quote from the Bible. It is a shattering commentary on human nature and opens at LLT on October 11-18 under the direction of Anya Flesh, who debuted here with the smash musical hit, “Guys and Dolls.” Also proving her versatility is Barbara Hawkins in the leading role of Regina, a previous star turn for Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor.
A critically acclaimed classic, “The Little Foxes,” covering an intense three-week period in the lives of a conflicted southern family, offers challenging dramatic opportunities to the actors and wary fascination to the audience.
There are some familiar faces, but the open auditions uncovered six talented newcomers. The cast features the previously mentioned, Barbara Hawkins, Andrew Krumbhaar, Ken Varcoe, Woody Dee, Darryl Tenenbaum, Fawna Osborn, Sherrie Sourelis, Marie-Lyse Jacobsmuhlen, Burt Kennedy and Juan Antonio Miramontes. Important, but unseen, are: Dorothy Butler, Margaret Sloat, Billie Cloutier, Sue and Len Breitfeller, and Tod Jonson.
Spotlight on Youth
A constant barrier to casting here at Lakeside is the “Ingenue Problem.” After all, how effectively can a 40 or 50-year-old woman, no matter how talented, play a believable 20- year-old? Katherine Cornell had to eventually give up playing Juliet and Helen Hayes quit being cute at thirty-two. Mary Pickford’s golden curls lasted long past the age of innocence and Shirley Temple traded in the Good Ship Lollipop for a ship of state. Local community theatre groups frequently forego wonderful plays for want of young dedicated actors who would rather play Hamlet than hockey, and the generation gap stretches awkwardly onward, even with judicious rewrites.
Fawna Osborn, in the pivotal ingenue role of Alexandra is the exception that breaks the rule. A genuine teen, talented, hardworking and attractive, she will bring reality to your theatrical experience. As the song goes “Thank Heaven for Little Girls!”
Wanted
“Men, men, men, wanted by one woman” is the provocative casting call for the comedy, “Art”, directed by Norma Lyerly. Additional auditions will be held at LLT on Oct 8 and 9th between the hours of 10 and 1:00PM.
A Change of Pace
The seasoned and unflappable director, Wayne Palfry, promises to stimulate your silly bone next month in the French farce, “Don’t Dress for Dinner.”
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