An Evening of Culture: Faith County II began with a rhythmic, behind-set hammering, someone trying to talk against the noise - an upbeat, creative opening. This was American small-town Mineola's amateur-dramatic group preparing to present Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

Beleaguered director Violet Farkle (Savanah Kurtz) was not quite handling phones ringing, the set being badly-built (falling down), an unruly leading lady - and a lack of key cast. Mildred Hayworth Carson (Sarah Weldon) answered a phone call from home which indicated the Carson family's complete ignorance of the manners of the theatre and their lack of respect for her needs as a performer. Mildred was the absent mother, being asked where things were - giving resentful attention to her husband and children as she was prepared for her debut as Juliet. Once off the phone, she was soon seen to be harassed, egocentric and overbearing. A fraught conversation with director Violet, and haranguing of incompetent set builders Delbert (Joseph Roller) and Dilbert Fink (Michael McKinlay) ensued: their regular appearances to fix the set and bang in nails became a running joke. Make-up artist Faye McFaye (Mary Catherine Darden) arrived late from the Bee-Luv-Lee Beauty Salon, quickly followed by the Nurse - Naomi Louise Frankle Carson (Hayley Carlisle) - Lady Capulet, and Nurse's dog, barking off-set.

All had various levels of stupidity, bitchiness or self-centredness while in conversation with Juliet - who developed her megalomaniac actress characterisation with every line. And where were Romeo / Bubba Bedford (Jordan Phillips) and Luther Carson (Seth Post) as the curtain-up drew worryingly near? Juliet's demands for a balcony were loud, the director constantly despaired, and the set-builder regularly adjusted the crumbling flats. Edinburgh Fringe's turn-around between shows is highly pressured for stage managers, making the collapsing, amateur-looking set a clever inclusion.

Modern and period costumes added to the good humour of the production. Once Bubba and Luther appeared it became clear that the only actor who actually knew any of the lines from Romeo and Juliet was megalomaniac Mildred. Nurse / Naomi (Hayley Carlisle) was a tall, slim leggy young woman whose costume changes highlighted her splendid figure. Towering over the the rest of the cast in her stilleto heels, she flirted with set-builders, male cast-members (and the audience) - to replace the boyfriend who had just chucked her. The balcony scene, fight scenes and death scenes were all played for laughs. Mineola Council for Cultural Recognition announcements were (intentionally) nervously made by Ruthann Barnes (Katy Calloway) and laced between scenes. Commentaries from the off-scene members of the totally incompetent, ill-rehearsed Mineola Shakespeare Troupe progressively annoyed Mildred / Juliet. Romeo kept showing how much he hated kissing her. Frustrated Midred had to feed everyone their lines - eventually she just gave up and died, as dramatically as possible. By the end the director was drunk, and the set had collapsed. What shone through An Evening of Culture: Faith County II was the enthusiastic, well-rehearsed cast obviously having as much fun as possible - and the fun was infectious.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Katy Calloway - Ruthann Barnes. Hayley Carlisle - Naomi Louise Frankle Carson. Mary Catherine Darden - Fay McFaye. Savanah Kurtz - Violet Farkle. Michael McKinlay - Dilbert Fink. Jordan Phillips - Bubba Bedford. Seth Post - Luther Carson. Joseph Roller - Delbert Fink. Sarah Weldon - Mildred Hayworth Carson.

Company Credits: Writer - Mark Landon Smith. Director - Darrin Riley. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Lighting Technician - Lance Garret. Sound Technician - Tracker Gordon. Fight Choreography - Justin Howard. Stage Manager - Caroline Callaway. House Manager - Maritza Caver. Costumes - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Produced by special arrangement with Baker's Plays. Company - The American High School Theatre Festival. Company - El Dorado High School Thespian Troupe 42, Arkansas. Website - www.gates42.com.

END

(c) Lilian Kennedy Brzoska 2009

reviewed Wednesday 12 August 09 / Pilrig Studio, 1b Pilrig Street, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com