Taylor High School Black Box Theatre Presents Lone Star and Laundry, 11/17-19

Lone Star and Laundry are two complementary one-act plays written by James McLure. Though not a native Texan, McLure is known as a premier Texas playwright because he graduated from SMU's theatre department in 1973 and his best-known plays are prized for their precise capture of the feel and character of West Texas. Not to mention the great southern humor running through every page! McLure died in February of this year from cancer. He was 59.

The flavor and essence of these three-handed loquacious comedies are as vibrant and entertaining today as they were when first performed off-Broadway in 1979. They also stand as a collective challenge to these fine young actors and a welcomed diversion from the grand musicals and stage productions usually performed on the high school level.

The two plays revolve around one young couple in the small town of Maynard, Texas in 1972. The first show, Laundry, introduces us to Elizabeth Caulder (Shelby Connolly), the conflicted wife of a Vietnam veteran who is not quite ready to grow up and settle down, as well as her best friend and exhausted mother of three, Hattie Dealing (Gabrielle White), and the town's most aggressive social climber, Amy Lee Fullernoy (Samantha Reichstein). The three ladies pass a hazy afternoon on Elizabeth's back porch arguing over their past and airing everyone else's dirty laundry. In Lone Star, we meet Elizabeth's now infamous husband, Roy Caulder (Jacob Bottorff), his earnest and well-meaning brother Ray (Camron Alexander), as well as Amy Lee's husband, Cletis Fullernoy (James Adamoli). In a yard behind the local bar - the place where old worn-out things end up - the boys stay long into the wee hours of the evening reliving their glory days and building up the courage to face the future.

"McLure is known as a Texan Neil Simon - and rightfully so!" says Julie Williams, Taylor High School Theatre Director and director of Laundry. "His work is very funny, but also honest and touching. Though exaggerated at times, these characters are recognizable and the situations they find themselves will be all too familiar for much of our Katy audience. Especially in contrast to The Children's Theatre we worked on at the beginning of the year, it is nice to have something more substantial for the students to be working on and to present to our audience."

In Lone Star, directed by Charlie Woods, THS Performing Arts Center Director, the action is driven by Roy, a brawny, macho type who had once been a local high school hot-rod, and is back in town after a hitch in Viet Nam, trying to re-establish his position in the community. He is portrayed by graduating senior Jacob Bottorff, who played Boo in THS's The Marriage of Bette and Boo last year. "These roles don't differ too much," Bottorff assesses. "Boo was in an unsuccessful marriage. Marriage and growing up wasn't what he expected. Roy is the same way." Bottorff has enjoyed the small cast experience of this production, and working more one on one with the director, Mr. Woods. He plans to pursue digital filming in college.

Also a senior in Lone Star is James Adamoli, who's totally fatuous Cletis offers a hilarious and essential break from the Roy/Ray-sibling confrontations. Cletis is the newlywed son of the local hardware store owner. "He is the most straight laced character I have played to date," Adamoli says, who has appeared in Barefoot in the park (Victor Velasco), Into the woods (Narrator/ Mysterious man), and A midsummer Night's Dream (Bottome). "It is a more modern role. I found it easier in this to stay focused. We were all more productive and felt the concentrated talent among just the three of us," he explains. "Of course, with such a small cast, when a lot of focus is on you and you don't do well, you're in trouble!" Adamoli will make some time for acting in college, but plans to study litigation instead as a career.

There will be three performances of the show from Thursday, November 17th thru Saturday, November 19th at 7:30 pm in the Taylor High School Black Box Theatre. Tickets are available at www.taylorplaymakers.com as well as at the door; costs are $8 for Students and $10 for Adults. Gold Card members get tickets for $5. The show is recommended for more mature audiences, ages 13 and up.

 

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