LAMB’S “THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL” STILL PULLS AT THE HEARTSTRINGS.

 Thomas Wolfe, in his final novel, “You Can’t Go Home Again”, published  posthumously in 1940, explores the idea ‘that one can never truly return to a past self or place’. But no one told that to Carrie Watts, in Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful”. 

In one of those rarest of moments, Deborah Gilmour Smith, after an award winning performance as- slipping into senility- Glady Green in Kenneth Lonergan’s “The Waverly Gallery”, is back in full form as Carrie Watts with all her wits about her, as the determined mother to Ludie Watts  (Andrew Oswald) and his overly critical and bossy  wife, Jessie Mae Watts (Kelsey Venter). 

Carrie Watts is like most of us who dream of our glorious childhood days and never consider what twenty years can do to a worn out and poverty stricken town. In her mind’s eye it will look and be the same. 

Lauren King Thompson and Deborah Gilmour Smyth

There is one thing on her To-Do list that she wants acknowledged by her son and daughter in law and that is her longing to go back to her roots and see Bountiful, Texas once more before she dies.

She plots and plans of ways to go back home to Bountiful  and  fantasizes about life and what it was like then and the possibility of living with one of her best friends (whom she hears from once a year). She aches to set her feet in the soil in which she once loved to till and plant. 

Now, the three share a small and claustrophobic apartment in Houston. They live in shrouded harmony made possible only by her peace-making son Ludie, but that could come apart at any moment.  According to Carrie there is no space outside to even plant a flower.

Spencer Gerber and Deborah Gilmour Smyth

Thirty five years ago, both Artistic Director and his wife Deborah Gilmour Smyth mounted ‘Bountiful’ with Gilmour Smyth playing Jessie Mae. Today, as we have all passed the ageing test, Ms. Smyth takes the trip to Bountiful again, but now as Carrie Watts, in Foote’s new and adapted 100 minute intermission-less trip. 

And now we the audience have a chance to go along with her ever so slowly and deliberately as she manages to slip under the radar at the local bus station and with some kindly helping hands ( Thelma, Lauren King Thompson, a passenger in the bus station, the ticket agent, Spencer Gerber and the Sheriff, Lance Arthur Smith)  to her final destination of Bountiful. 

Andrew Oswald is perfect as the loving, respectful, understanding and quietly spineless son who is put in a position of making peace with both his mother and his wife while trying to get ahead in his job. 

 (L to R) Lauren King Thompson, Andrew Oswald, Deborah Gilmour Smyth, Spencer Gerber and Lance Arthur Smith

Kelsey Venter plays the disgruntled wife and daughter in law as someone you would want to shake to her senses.

Lauren King Thompson is gracious as Carrie's fellow passenger, Thelma, Lance Arthur Smith plays the kind hearted Sheriff and Spencer Gerber’s ticket agent is fin in rounding out the staff. 

Mike Buckley’s minimalist set and meager remains of Carrie’s dilapidated homestead in Bountiful are another reminder that the past is just the past. 

Deborah Gilmour Smyth and Kelsey Venter

Jemma Dutra designed appropriate dated fashions, Nathan Pierson’s lighting and Deborah Gilmour Smyth’s incidental music with some pretty interesting bird calls impress. 

From the very first time yours truly saw this play about 30 years ago until today it still tugs at my heartstrings for its humility, humanity, simplicity, peace, acceptance and grace.  (Some things we do not see in today's world.)

With Ms. Smyth as Carrie Watts,  it’s the frosting on the cake. 

 Enjoy,

See you at the theatre.

When:  Runs through March 1. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado

Photo: Nathan Pierson

Tickets: $28-$98

Phone: 619-437-6000

Online: lambsplayers.org

“LOUISA GILLIS” MAKES WORLD PREMIERE AT NORTH COAST REP.

Playwright Joanna McClelland Glass is no stranger to David Ellenstein or The North Coast Repertory Theater. In 2021 her play “Trying” was produced and streamed at NCR during the Covid outbreak, again directed by Ellenstein.  At that time, I wrote  “The story is based on playwright Joanna McClelland Glass’ experience as an assistant to famed Attorney General and Chief Judge at Nuremberg, Francis Biddle, during the final year of his life”. 

As a matter of fact, I was able to see “Trying” at The Ford Theatre many, many moons ago when my late husband was in D.C. on business. At that time Glass was in her early twenties and Biddle was 81. Today Glass is 89 and still going strong, ergo “Louisa Gillis”. 

“Louisa Gillis” is a play of a very different stripe. It is oft called a mystery, but not in the usual sense. It’s more psychological than logical; actually, it oft times defies logic. But no spoilers here. It is funny, but not a comedy. It deals with old secrets, alcohol addiction and a letter of demands left behind by Louisa that keeps the family almost paralyzed and in a state of dysfunction. Putting them altogether and putting the pieces in the right places is the puzzle sought after by the audience and the playwright.  

Faline England, Caroline Renee, James Sutorius and Denise Young

The characters include Steven, (James Sutorius who also played Biddle in NCR’s “Trying”) Louisa’s ex; Celia, (Faline England) Louisa’s cast aside and bitter daughter by Steven; Lucy, (Caroline Renee) Louisa’s granddaughter (Celia’s daughter who is once remover from Louisa but has to deal with her mother’s drinking problem. She is also a college dropout), and his loving and kind Helga, (Denise Young) Steven’s now wife of forty years. 

Caroline Renee and Denise Young

And while we never actually see Louisa she is very much a part of each character for better or worse. Mostly the later. The wall of pictures in the background is a reminder of her existence. 

Steven is a retired college professor who can rattle off Shakespeare, Homer, Socrates, and any and all the great philosopher’s chapter and verse at the drop of a hat. But what’s bothering him right now is the fact that Celia, using the money she inherited from Louisa, has moved him to a retirement community facility in Connecticut far from his beloved apartment in New York City. And no laughing matter, he is close to death because of a heart disease, again, which Celia is paying his medical bills.

Sutorius, who played Biddle in “Trying”, is absolutely outstanding as Steven. He is on the money and his lines crackle! He may be next to dying in the play, but is very much alive with his deliveries and Glass has given him some doozies. 

Faline England as Celia

Ms. England had the drunk scenes down pat, but watching her reminded me of growing up with an alcoholic father. No laughing matter, that! She had a special affinity to Jack Daniels. Her daughter Lucy (Renee)  whose performance was also so natural and believable, was the one taking care of her. I had  rachmanus (sympathy) for her. Denise Young (who also happens to be Ellenstein’s wife) was gentle and caring of all the characters. As the outsider, she was able to get to her husband when no one else could. In the end, she was the catalyst  that brought some humanity and peace to this troubled family. 

Marty Burnett’s set, is as usual, functional and detailed. Matthew Novotny’s lighting specifically focuses on both places of residence (which could have been confusing). Elsa Benzoni’s costumes fit each personality, and Matt Fitzgerald’s sound brought on some heavy rain on cue.  

With Artistic Director Ellenstein at the helm,  and a few minor changes, Glass’ “Louisa” could go on to have a life elsewhere. 

The production is 95 minutes long without intermission.

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.

When:  Runs through Feb. 8. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays.

Photo: Aaron Rumley

Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach

Tickets: $58.50-$80.50

Phone: 858-481-1055

Online: northcoastrep.org

 

“SIX THE MUSICAL”: LOTS OF GLITTER WITH SOME HISTORY MIXED IN.

 

The Six Wives

I’ve been wanting to see “SIX The Musical” by Toby Harlow and Lucy Moss for some time now. It debuted at the Edinburgh film festival in 2017, was picked up on London’s West End and officially went to Broadway in 2021. It’s presented as a concert-style show as the queens compete to see who will score as the most popular. 

I love history and the thought of a musical about Tutor History, King Henry III and his six wives sounded intriguing: Catherine of Aragon was married to Henry the longest and for that she was sent to the Tower of London and died in isolation so Henry could marry Anne Boleyn, Catherine’s Lady in waiting. 

Anne was beheaded, followed by Anna of Cleves followed by Katherine Howard who was beheaded and finally Catherine Parr who outlived Henry but died in childbirth.

Emma Elizabeth Smith as Catherine of Aragon in the North American tour of “Six.” (Photo by Joan Marcus/Broadway San Diego)

The night I saw the show it was hoping with enthusiasm from young and old alike but mostly the younger set. (My date commented that we were probably 50 years too late to be overly zealous.) 

Aside from not understanding all the lyrics, (it was verrry loud, Paul Gatehouse), it was high in energy, eye blaring glitzy, sequine with costumes by Gabriella Slade, choreographed with precision by Carrie-Ann Ingrouille, and vibrant stage lighting by Tim Deilin. 

 The on stage band consisting of bass, guitar, drums keyboard, synthesizer are under the direction of music coordinator Kristy Norter. 

There is no substitute for the talent and strong voices on the stage on opening night with Emma Elizabeth Smith as Catherine of Aragon, (“No Way”), Nella Cole as Anne Boleyn (Don’t Lose Ur Head”), Kelly Denise Taylor as Jane Seymour (“Heart of Stone”), Hailey Alexis Lewis as Anna of Cleves (“Get Down”), Alize Cruz as Catherine Howard (“All You Wanna Do”), and Tasia Jungbauer as Catherine Parr (“I Don’t Need Your Love”). 

Finally, Girl Power wins out and the competition is dropped as all SIX sing “The Queens”. 

All this in just over 90 minutes without intermission. 

There is still time to catch it. It’s playing through Sunday Jan. 4th at the Civic Theatre.

Enjoy!

See you at the theatre.

Through Jan 4th 2026

San Diego Civic Theatre

1100 Third Ave

San Diego, CA 92101