Culture
Photo Christina Stock
An Evening of Culture Lots to laugh at RCLT By Christina Stock Vision Editor
Shakespeare might just be “doin’ the cattywampus” rotating in his grave, if he would know what a southern community little theater is doing to his “Romeo and Juliet.” Despite the title, “An Evening of Culture,” the play is anything
Artist
By Christina Stock Vision Editor
to
but. It is a full-blown slapstick comedy and the audience is advised to bring some tissues for all the tears of laughter. Written by Mark Landon Smith, who grew up in Arkansas. “We played it once in our old location in 2004,” said director
Patty Staci. “It was so much fun, and people were asking to bring it back. I had new ideas for the play and of course our wonderful new actors are adding to it. That turns it into a new play, even if you have seen it before.” The play is actually a play within a play. The actors slip into the rolls of inept hilarious southern actors at the Mineola Council for Culture Recognition. Those actors have each several different rolls — sound familiar? Indeed, that is how it often happens at a local small community theater. Only in this case, everything goes wrong. Julie Ferguson plays Violet Farkle – the Director, trying to keep control, when everything is breaking; actors don’t know their lines, accidents happen, an actor forgets his costume and one wants to play something different – 20 minutes before the play starts. Gina Montague Amos plays Mildred Carson,
who plays Juliet. It is supposed to be a roll for a teenager… but Mildred is a little on the mature side, as is Romeo, played by John Crocker AKA Bubba Bedford and the rest of the actors. Amos and Crocker are a couple made in heaven, or rather in the backwoods of Arkansas. They are as cute and funny together as a toe sack full of puppies. Both are known actors performing regularly at the Roswell Community Little Theatre. Alethea Hartwell plays Naomi Farkle Carson, Juliet’s “momma,” also a local beautician doubling as make-up artist for the stars and trying to sell her beauty products while the play is in process. Hartwell is well-known in the community as actress and director, recently directing the Kids Arts Programs Play “Thea Thud And The Quest For Weird Beard.” Chris Samuels plays Delbert Fink, who is not only the dangerous bad
Watch
This edition’s artist to watch is Lauren Amos. Amos is a Kids Art ProgramS student in Roswell, and together with fellow student John Snyder, has been selected to attend the New Mexico Charter School for the Arts in Santa Fe. Amos has appeared on stage with the Kids Art ProgramS, which has been supported and encouraged in the Roswell Community Little Theatre building since the 2012-13 season. Amos’ mother Gina is well known as actress and singer at RCLT, her
father Tim works for the New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe Academy. Amos recently played Eva in the KAPS performance of “And a Child Shall Lead” at the Roswell Community Little Theatre. KAPS expands cultural literacy among Roswell area youth. It encourages youth to be nurtured by and to be initiated into the arts. Lauren’s mother Gina Amos said, “The kids had to apply by submitting an application and also write an essay about how they got into their particular art, why they love it, etc. Then, if they were called, they were scheduled for an
14 / V i s i o n M a g a z i n e | Thursday, May 21, 2015
Lauren and her mother Gina Amos Courtesy Photo
Alethea Hartwell and Gina Montague Amos Photo Christina Stock
set builder but also is the “Prince,” hopefully he will find his crown before the play. Denise Samuels plays Ruthann Barns, that poor “thang” has to cover all bases in her rolls as friar, the page and a servant. Shelly Forrester plays sexy Faye McFaye, Juliet’s nurse. Jonathan Wildman plays Luther Carson as Benvolio. Stacy has been an actress, assisting director and director for the Roswell Community Lit-
tle Theatre since 2001. “I have the best cast and crew for this actionpacked comedy,” she said. The Roswell Community Little Theatre is located at 1717 S. Union Ave. Performances will be on May 29, 30, June 5, 7 at 7:30 p.m. and May 31 and June 7 at 2 p.m. Call 622-1982 for reservations or visit the website to make reservations at roswelltheatre.com.
audition in which they had to perform two-minute monologues, preferably each different in tone and mood. The counselor recommended one be something more modern and the other something classical.” Amos continued, “Lauren and I were very impressed with not only their performance, but with the students themselves. We were able to talk with a few of them and they were very friendly, poised, and confident young people. Something you don’t often see these days. So, that is when I began to look into it further for
Lauren. We applied and took a tour of the campus, it is a lovely campus right in downtown Santa Fe.” Information on the school can be found at nmschoolforthearts.org To learn about the KAPS program visit roswellkaps.org. If you are a teacher or mentor of a talented child or young adult, email us at vision@ rdrnews.com for details or call 622-7710, ext. 309.