Barter Theatre to Open THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD, 5/10

What happens when Rhonda Russell's husband of the past 17-and-a-half years calls her from out of the blue and says he's moved out? Something no one could have predicted, that's what.

Rhonda has to ask herself 'is there another woman and what am I going to do about it?'

Barter Theatre's "The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead," beginning May 10 at Barter Stage II, springs forward from this simple question.

Starring Tricia Matthews, an audience favorite in Barter Theatre's Resident Acting Company, "The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead" is directed by Susanne Boulle.

"This play is the patchwork story of a scandal that shakes up a suburban town. Lives are changed forever by jealousy and a fallen ice cream cone at a shopping mall," said Boullee.

Everyone has a completely different story to tell about that day, the events leading up to it and what happened afterwards.

Who is to blame? Is it the jealous wife, the friend who eggs her on, or that blonde in the jewelry store? How about the husband who won't open up about anything?

It's a story that critics call unexpected and intriguing. "Beyond a standard thriller, [this show] wants us to consider how the most serious occurrences in life are so open to interpretation," writes the Chicago Tribune.

Set up in an interview style, the truth as each character sees it unfolds onstage. Through each character's stories, a whole picture is fascinatingly revealed, which will no doubt include personal bias. The biases of the blond, the brunette and the redhead will be brought to light as they tell their story and perhaps playgoers' will discover their own biases unveiled.

How does one actor play so many different people? Boulle calls Matthews 'a one-woman tour-de-force.'

"I believe the audience will be blown away by the honesty she brings to each and every one of these complex characters. She breathes life into each of these people and each one of them is full of the thoughts, habits and idiosyncrasies that make every human being unique," said Boulle.

"I think people are going to be surprised by this piece. It is funny, moving, thought provoking and very much a theatrical event," addEd Matthews.

"The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead" is sponsored in part by Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, viamedia and Voice Magazine for Women. Barter Theatre is funded in part by the National Endowment of the Arts and the Virginia Commission of the Arts.

Barter recommends this show for ages 17 and up due to adult content and language. For tickets and more information about Barter Theatre visit BarterTheatre.com or call 276.628.3991.

With its unique beginnings during the Great Depression, Barter Theatre, one of this nation's oldest professional non-profit theatres, is located in beautiful historic Abingdon, Virginia. Barter Theatre is a theatre of firsts: one of this nation's first professional regional theatres, the first professional theatre to be designated a state theatre - The State Theatre of Virginia and more. Today, Barter offers a variety of musicals, classics, comedies, dramas and new southern and Appalachian plays performed February - December yearly on two stages: Barter Theatre and Barter Stage II. Barter Theatre continues to be one of the nation's most vibrant and exciting professional theatre experiences.

Pictured: Tricia Matthews in "The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead."