Once again It was a case of time well-spent, and we are making reference herewith to "Bell, Book and Candle" at the Wynn Richards Taylor Playhouse, as recently as Friday evening of last week.
Most folks enjoy a little spoofing and spooking too, from time to time, and there's something about magic wands and hocus- pocus that puts a tingle in the spine. Like when Charles Azar, as Nicky, made a pass at the locked door, which swung wide-open so obligingly.
Prof. Lueckenbach surely had assembled and directed an excellent cast. Gillian, the leading-lady, played by Fran Cunningham, was tops and, as she went about weaving a spell around her leading man, Shep Henderson, played by Dr. Ray Graves, we felt like announcing our state of enchantment also. Nor do we blame Shcp for succumbing to Gil's charms, either in or out of his trance.
As the gushy Aunt Queenie, Emma Low Cole had a trying and most difficult role, and played it to the hilt. And as the lushy Sidney Rcdlitch, Emory Rose gave convincing and impeccable support to the vehicle.
It was a good play, and the five players gave it all they had. which was talent aplenty and to spare.
At the cast-party at Pal and V. H. Turner's house (Helen Spiars was co-hostess), we chatted with the unsung heroes and heroines, thc back-stage folks who do the sets, make-ups, and run down the props. And speaking of sets. "Bell, Book and Candie's" was a beauty, and of course the end result of planning, good taste, and hard work. We also had a chance to mix and mingle with the celebrities themselves, and to make inquiries as to who's who.
Mrs. Cunningham, the leading lady, is the former Frances Bennett, of Madison Stations, near Canton in Madison County. Her mother and sister (Gay Bennett Yerger of Jackson) were here for Gil's triumph, and we learned from Mrs. Bennett that they arc kinfolks to Herbert Hay Thompson (of Greenville and Laurel), and know all the good folks we used to know down that way, like Cliff and Meta Dinkins Fisackerly, Nell Lawter, Frances Howell, and the I.adimers, Maxwells, Virdcns, Winters, Powells, Brittons, Ricksas, Charlie Harris et cetera. And daughter Gay, being married to Dr. Buford Yerger, was soon raking up kinships with Dove, Bimmie, Ann Ross and Burr McGee.
Emma Lou Cole ("Aunt Queenie") is the daughter of our old friend Capt. A. S. Rusk, who used to pilot the ferry-boat "Gladys", as well as its predecessors and successors, bctween Warfield Point and the Arkansas shore, in thc days before the bridge was built at Refuge
"Cap" Is still around, and we are glad to know this. Perhaps he attributes his durability to clean living and Mountain Valley water which he used to recommend to his ferry-customers in the long ago.
Seeing Bobby Sterruzza's name in the lighting - crew brought up memories of what must have been the first Little Theatre production that he ever saw. Only it was known as "Della Fine Arts" back in '46, and the play was "On Borrowed Time", with Ben Wasson, David Cooper, Ruth Cuthbert, Nesta Schweizcr, Ed Luckenbach, Rosemary Mock, Ira Stull and Old Stuff. Roy Wood Jr. was the little boy up the apple-tree, the latter a work of art by Neva Arnold. Incidentally, we have often wondered why the local theatre group doesn't stage a repeat performance of this very good play. If it was good enough for Lionel Barrymorc and millions of radio and TV fans, year after year, it ought to be good enough for Greenville.
Getting back to the witchcraft, do the players and helpers in "Bell, Book and Candle" know that Dove has a little table at our house that has cracked in several places, and all because it refused to be lifted during a seance of spiritualist-minded people in her Grandmother Valliant's parlor, sometime prior to the turn of the century? And tho lady with the power to restrain the table may have Mrs. Allew Pardillo's Grandmother McGrath.
-BC
P.S. YET more birthday-boys for February, like Jack Nelson on the 12th, and Bill and Buddy Jordan (twins) on the 22nd. B and B just did manage to beat Nancy Ann Stovall to the wire.
