Date: Fri 27-Aug-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Sherman-Magnolia-Feltch

Full Text:

THEATRE REVIEW: "Magnolias" Has A Great Impact

(with cut)

By June April

SHERMAN -- What with episodes of rage abounding and yet another surge of

antisemitism raising its ugly head, Sherman Players' current presentation of

The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia has a greater impact

this month than it might have under other circumstances.

Directed by Newtown resident Mark Feltch, the play offers penetrating insights

into the kind of people who are drawn into hate organizations. There is a

balance of humor to this revealing play, largely through the misfits who are

drawn to such groups. When a new member seeks to join the Knights of the White

Magnolia, bedlam breeds closure.

Looking quite a bit like a teenage version of the character Alfalfa from the

old television show with Spanky and the gang, Jamie Hall brings laughter to

being an initiate. As Lonnie Roy NcNeil, he really has no clue what the

Knights of the White Magnolia are really about.

Playwright Preston Jones regrettably died at the age of 43, after surgery for

a bleeding ulcer. His promise was great and his writing was recognized for its

wit and mastery.

Mr Jones received the Golden Apple Award from Cue magazine in 1976 for A Texas

Trilogy, of which The last Meeting... is a part. One year later, in 1977, the

trilogy was acknowledged via the Outer Critics Circle Award.

In Sherman, particularly fine performances by Howard Fenn, Jack Heidt, F.

Orville Goodman and Steve Manzino gave the production strong credibility.

Glenn Anderson as the elderly L.D. Alexander is especially noteworthy.

Portraying the rather shell-shocked and wheelchair-bound Colonel J.C. Kincaid,

Barry Corn was truly outstanding. There were moments in the play that he

reminded one of the wheelchair character in the movie Dr Strange Love .

Set in a room in the old Cattleman's Hotel in 1962, the spirit of the group

was effectively captured by set designer Jim West, with the assistance of Mark

Feltch, Judy and Bruce Thomson, and John Wekerle.

The program describes the locale as Bradleyville, Texas, population 6000, a

small dead West Texas town in the middle of a big dead West Texas prairie that

has been bypassed by the new highway and now the world. The description is

poetic, and all aptly reflected through Mr Feltch's directorial skills.

(Playing on weekends , The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia

can be seen through September 4. Located a bit north of the juncture of Routes

37 and 39 in Sherman Center, Sherman Playhouse is behind the Sherman Fire

Station and by the IGA. For further information and reservations call

354-3622.)