THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606280188
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Mr. Robert's Neighborghood
SOURCE: Frank Roberts
LENGTH: 69 lines
The Wrights were wrong initially, but brothers Orville and Wilbur's plane made it off the ground eventually. And the light didn't go on the first time Thomas Edison pulled the string.
Theater in Suffolk has had a similar history. One group had to cancel a production because there was almost as much rain on its stage as outside; another called it quits when fire destroyed the theater.
Now the theatrical-minded among us are going to try again.
This fall, the first production by The (New) Peanut Players will be presented - money coming from the old Peanut Players. The '80s group folded with $2,000 in the bank. Holmes Small, who was the treasurer, thought about the money recently and suggested that the Suffolk Art League put it to good theatrical use.
More money is needed, of course. Corporate sponsors are being sought and, as Linda Bunch, the Art League administrator, put it, ``We'll take money from any source.''
An organizational meeting was held June 6, at Suffolk Museum. The next gathering will be July 11, at the same location.
``We decided we really want to do this. That's the most important thing,'' Bunch said. ``People are determined to make this happen.''
The number of productions per year have not been decided.
``The best way to get people interested is to do something,'' Bunch said. ``The first play won't be elaborate - no musical or period piece.''
It will most likely be held at Lakeland High School. Rick Ewell, who directs some of the productions there, is a Peanut Player guiding light. He is acting as liaison between the theater group and the school.
Other theater groups are being contacted to see if props or costumes can be borrowed, a not-uncommon practice with amateur theatrical companies.
``The first play will bring people back,'' said Bonnie Speight, who is working with the Peanut Players. ``You've got to start with something that will do just that.''
That first play will be decided by a selection committee, which is looking over several scripts.
The first Peanut Players production, in 1982, was a sure-fire hit because it was by Neil Simon. ``The Odd Couple'' was so successful that two extra performances were added.
I remember it well. I was typecast as Oscar, the slob. Wayne Oliver portrayed neatnik Felix. Small was one of our poker-playing buddies.
After that, it was downhill. The next presentation was two one-act plays. They were fairly good, but they were unknown entities and did not draw an audience.
Next on the schedule was the more familiar Noel Coward's ``Blithe Spirit.''
The thespians' spirits were less than blithe.
``At first, we couldn't get anyone to take the lead,'' Small said. ``Finally, we got a guy from Chesapeake. Four days before the play was to open, he didn't know his lines.''
There was more.
``It rained at the old Kings Fork School. It rained as much on stage as outside,'' Small said. ``We decided to cancel the play.''
Meanwhile, another theater group popped up. The Magic Lantern Stage Company was going to use the old downtown movie theater for its productions. The theater burned down Nov. 18, a few hours before opening night.
All of that happened 14 years ago. This go-'round the group is well organized, and there are a lot of interested people who want to be able to say that - yes - there is theater in Suffolk.
This town is too big to be without. Companies in Smithfield and Ahoskie have been going strong for about three decades. Elizabeth City has two strong groups, Hertford has a good company.
Last I looked, Suffolk was larger than those locales. As they used to say in those grade-B musicals - ``Hey, gang, let's put on a show.'' by CNB