After multiple castings, guest director Juliet Blanks has secured the 11 actors who will portray the Turpin family in the dark southern comedy "Dearly Departed."
Just days away from opening night, Juliet — who is the daughter of retired Richmond County teacher Ramsey Blanks but has never graced the Richmond Community Theatre stage — can honestly say she is having a good time.
"Everyone has been great to work with," she says. "I give directions; they (the cast) implement them on the very next run."
I've seen some of the rehearsals, and I've heard Juliet's feedback. The detailed "notes," as actors call them, are something new to folks who have never been on stage. It's the instruction that folks with limited experience need; they know they need it, and they appreciate it.
Orin Nelson operates OKNellz Cab Company out of Rockingham. He has three parts, but his central speaking role is that of Reverend Hooker: a man desperately trying to gracefully lay the Turpin family patriarch to rest amidst the bickering and dysfunction. Orin has been on stage only once.
"She is gentle and patient and kind with it," Orin says of Juliet's notes on his performances. "It's awesome. I'm having fun."
Speaking of notes and feedback, none of the casting sessions landed us a Ray Bud — the now family patriarch upon the passing of his father. Perhaps the most responsible member of the family, he's depressed, stressed, and writing the checks. Juliet approached two people to step in — one of them was me. The other was Ryan Harris, currently residing in Moore County.
Harris accepted, thank the Lord. I'm too old, too tired, and too busy. I did this show with my pal Don Bridge directing. Don has since passed, and I want to hold our shows in my mind as I remember them. Plus, Ryan fits better.
Additionally, Ryan is coming off a show with The Encore Theater in which he appeared with Juliet in "On Golden Pond." He is also her significant other. It's one thing to be on stage with her, but it's quite another to take direction and then go home together.
"After dating her for over a year now," says Ryan, "I am well versed in her natural ability to critique and provide instruction."
Dude, you are so in trouble.
"Seriously, it’s great seeing her bring all the unique experience she has into a director role...She's done a great job communicating with everyone and getting them to the place they need to be."
That is an admirable save, sir.
I can attest to Juliet's vast experience — a trained dancer and a stage performer in more productions than I can count. To date, though, we've shared the stage only twice.
Marc Harding has never taken the stage. He auditioned on a whim and landed the role of Junior, Ray Bud's good-hearted screw-up of a brother.
"I saw on Facebook that there were open auditions, and I looked at my wife and said, 'You know what? I'm gonna do that.'"
What is noticeable at the rehearsal is Marc's almost instant rapport with Ryan. They are quite believable as brothers.
"We kind of bonded," says Marc. "And Sarah (Sarah Hennesy, who plays his mother) and I have really bonded. It's a great dynamic between the three of us."
Marc's dad did "Death of a Salesman" on the RCT stage in 1981 with founding director David Ariail. But until now, Marc had not set foot in the theater.
Sarah Hennesy plays Ray Bud and Junior’s mother, Raynelle. She has not stepped on stage in 25 years — save for a brief appearance in a radio play in Southern Pines. She is an alumna of the Gilbert Theater in Cumberland County, where she worked with Mimi Carter, the volunteer who serves as the stage manager for "Dearly Departed." Sarah echoes Marc's sentiments about how the cast has gelled.
"I found a little family here," she says. "It's been fun, and I want to come back."
That family atmosphere is genuine. Though Brooke Walker is no stranger to theater, it has been backstage and behind the scenes. "Dearly Departed" is her on-stage acting debut as Ray Bud's wife, Lucille. She is performing with her mother, Lindsay Melton, who plays Juanita, cousin to the Turpin family and the "Yam Queen" of Lula.
Directors need to cast the show, promote the show, interpret the script, coax the performances they need out of the actors, and coordinate their movements. They decide how the set and the costumes look. Typically, the director also hires the crew, including the stage manager.
Stage managers coordinate with lighting and sound folks, calling the cues. They mark where items go on stage and design how and who will remove each one. They make sure people enter and exit properly and hit their marks. They schedule rehearsals and ensure rehearsals remain on schedule.
"Once we go into tech week, that's when the stage manager takes over," says Mimi Carter, who took the role to support Juliet's directorial debut.
"Honestly, I couldn't have done this without her," Juliet says, leaning on Mimi's experience throughout the production.
There is more to both these roles, but you get the idea. Watch a show with an accomplished stage manager and watch one without. Even the untrained eye will see the difference immediately. Mimi worked for the Gilbert Theater in the 1990s before traveling to the Philippines and starting a theater there. She is one of the founding members of the Encore Theater. She will more than likely direct a show for RCT next season.
"Dearly Departed" opens this Friday night, June 20, at 7 p.m. and runs for two weekends.
Cast List:
Raynelle: Sarah Hennessey
Marguerite: Darla Lovin
Royce: Lucas Robinson
Ray-Bud: Ryan Harris
Lucille: Brooke Walker
Junior: Marc Harding
Suzanne: Liz Stewart Driggers
Juanita: Lindsay Melton
Clyde/Norval/Rev. Hooker: Orin Nelson
Veda: Ruthanne Williams
Delightful/Nadine: Riley Jacobs
