Pierce College Theatre presents world premier of local playwright’s work

By Lynn Geyer

Enter the Old South, a land of strong ties to relatives and fables — unbelievable old wives’ tales of living dead and flora revenge which couldn’t possibility happen — or could they? Ask this of Louise Penberthy, the Seattle playwright who penned “Miss Hannah Comes Back,” which made its world premier at Pierce College’s Studio 320 May 14.

This is a very wordy two-act play, each act is composed of several scenes which layout the story of Paula and her partner Cathy who return to Paula’s Mississippi hometown and take up residence in a lovely old home which once belonged to Miss Hannah.

Although the two women are much in love with each other, there is the problem that Paula is, at heart, a country girl and Cathy belongs in the city.

Upon arrival, Cathy complains that, “Things are too green!” That’s the start of their problems. They are enhanced when Delilah, an old school chum, appears in her larger-than-life self with Paula’s old boy friend, Richard, in tow. Delilah pushes the two together at every turn much to Paula and Cathy’s chagrin.

We move from winter to spring to summer back to Christmas, cleverly denoted by news reports over the on-stage radio. The happenings during the year of the couple’s return are, to say the least, unusual!

Richard dies in an auto accident and returns to trade places with Cathy, but loses his trade when Paula rejects him. Miss Hannah comes back for a very brief, malevolent visit and gets her comeuppance. And a “murdered” giant oak tree reaps its revenge.

Penberthy says that this has been, “Something of a miracle because four months ago, this play didn’t exist!” Perhaps if she works on it for another few months, the playwright may be able to iron out the details which seemed to be overlooked in this draft and turn a very interesting piece of work.

Theatre instructor Fred Metzger said, “This is a first. We have a guest director, a guest playwright with a new play and a guest designer.” He said, “The only thing I have to do with it is that I’m the House Manager!”

Studio 320, the Theatre Department’s new black-box theatre is set up with a proscenium stage this time to hold Stefanie Brewer’s set design of the house, porch and surrounding yard.

The set is simplistic with the fourth wall sporting fragmented window frames suspended from the ceiling. French doors occupy the central focal point of the house, which (unfortunately) remain unused during the play. The porch is nicely located on the stage right side of the house which juxtaposes the stump of the old oak tree.

Although the tree is cut down during the play, the stump is topped with a wonderful lighting special of the upper portion of an oak tree to show how it looked before it was attacked. Brewer did the lighting design as well.

Seattle’s Richard Buckley is the director. He moves his people about the stage nicely utilizing all parts of it, except for those lovely French doors. Buckley also plays Joe Nelson, the local handyman.

Andrew Myrick, who did a fine job in last quarter’s “K2,” does ably as Richard, the rejected former boy friend.

Dana Clark is the returning Miss Hannah. She is as quirky as the role requires.

Sherein Idkidek is the busy-body Delilah. She is wonderful in her less than subtle ways of trying to pair up the wistful Richard and unwilling Paula. Idkidek livens up the stage when she in on.

Amber Reed is Paula, the young girl who left home to attend college and couldn’t wait to get back after graduation with her partner. Reed does a nice job with Paula. She has a good rapport with her lover. However, she should slow down her delivery. At times in the first act, it was hard to keep up with her. She improved in the second act and did slow her pace somewhat.

Crystal Meyer (Cathy), making her acting debut with this play, does a very good job. She is a natural. Her delivery is plausible, her movements are direct and she has good stage presences, which in none too common in a newcomer to the stage.

“Miss Hannah Comes Home” continues at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22, at Studio 320 in the Cascade Building on Pierce College’s Fort Steilacoom campus at 9401 Farwest Drive, S.W. in Lakewood.

Tickets are $5 for general admission, and $2 for students, seniors and military, and can be purchased at the door or by calling the Pierce College reservation line at (253) 964-6710. For more information, please visit www.pierce.ctc.edu.

As the program suggests, “Refresh your mind, engage your heart, find out how the plants win.”