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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| (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.
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| 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






































