Wednesday, July 18, 2001
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Wednesday, July 18, 2001 |
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Offshoot presents classic tale of "Sleeping Beauty" By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
An evil fairy places a curse on a girl that causes her to sleep until she is awoken by a prince. The town is cursed as well, not to mention run by a confused mayor, a hysterical queen and overrun by a giant. This is the plot of Offshoot Production's summer musical, "A Tale of Sleeping Beauty." Performed in an intimate setting, this charming and quirky take on the classic fairy tale unfolds with help from the children in the audience. This is the third summer that Offshoot has performed one or more participatory plays for children and the results in the past have been outrageous. "You never know what will happen when you invite children to join you on stage," said Susan Steadman, offshoot's artistic director. "A young boy dressed as a pirate wanted to fight side by side with Long John Silver one year and another show had a near sighted actor playing a king choose a boy from the audience to be his queen." Participatory theater certainly keeps the actors on their toes and this year's cast has plenty of theater experience. Accomplished performer Kathy Gilcrist of Lawrenceville portrays the Queen, while Tyrone's Tom Flaherty appears as the Prince. Flaherty has performed professionally with the Houston Grand Opera and is up to the task of saving Beauty and her family from the evil curse. The role of Beauty will be shared by Sharpsburg's Jen King and Fayetteville's Emily Clifton, while Jeremy Steadman and Don Jenkins, both of Peachtree City, share the role of the King. Joey Waldrop, a third-time Offshoot apprentice and seven-foot-tall Senoia resident, fittingly plays the Giant who holds the Prince captive. Kimbo Daniel of Brooks and Katy Jenkins of Peachtree City will share the role of Glenda, the evil fairy, while Melissa Hamilton of Peachtree City appears as the befuddled Mayor, who is shaken when the entire town leaves to escape the curse. Martha Clarke of Fayetteville is the musical director. She has previously worked with Offshoot on "The Tale of the Frog Prince," "The Further Adventures of Maide Marian" and "Twelfth Night." A. Bryant Betsill Jr. of Fayetteville provides the set and light design and is assisted by Diana Bibee of Palmetto. Fayetteville's Bettina choreographed the show and Paige Steadman is the associate producer and the understudy. "A Tale of Sleeping Beauty" will be performed July 20-29. Curtain times are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. There will also be two special daytime shows a 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 and 26. Tickets are $5 each, with a $1 discount if a child shows his or her library summer reading program folder or, in the case of Fayette County, his or her "Press Card." Groups of 15 or more can get a group rate with payment in advance. Tickets are available at the Peachtree City Library and the Fayette County Library and will also be sold at the door. Phone 770-631-2362 or e-mail offshootpr@aol.com. |
