Happy hundred, Tennessee Williams.
The Allen Community College Theatre Department’s spring production “Night of the Iguana” was chosen, in part, to commemorate the late playwright’s 100th birthday.
The local acting troupe, spearheaded by dazzling performances from Dakota Yohe, Valeree Winslow and Alexis Hosack, offer a fitting gift.
The play runs tonight through Saturday at the ACC Theatre. Tickets for the 7:30 shows are available in advance at Iola Pharmacy and at the door, $6 for adults and $4 for students.
“Night of the Iguana” follows the story of Lawrence T. Shannon, a disgraced reverend who was locked out of his church in part because of his weakness for women and a particularly fiery and blasphemous sermon days after a dalliance with a young Sunday school teacher.
In disgrace, Shannon finds himself serving as a tour guide in a Mexican resort, but still in trouble, this time for a rendezvous with a 16-year-old tourist.
He’s assisting Maxine Faulk, a recently widowed resort owner, whose husband left her with little money and even less affection.
Meanwhile, Hannah Jelks, a middle-aged spinster arrives at the resort with her elderly grandfather. They have little money to pay for lodging, instead relying on Hannah’s ability to sell pieces of art to fund their stay.
The story takes place over a single day in early 1940, when the horrors of war in eastern Europe are referred to but only in passing.
Yohe, as the tortured reverend, is nothing short of brilliant as his inner demons come to light in bits and pieces. Hosack also shines as Maxine, the spry and fiery resort owner. Their interaction will elicit a few chuckles along the way.
But the play’s most touching moments come as Yohe bonds with Winslow’s Hannah, as both realize there is no easy solution when it comes to life, or with relationships.
A talented ensemble of supporting characters bring the play to life.
Jonathan Schmidt offers a few touching, if not humorous, moments as Nonno, Hannah’s 97-year-young grandfather. He promises to complete a poem to describe their setting, even though he must retell the poem verbally. (His eyesight isn’t strong enough for him to write it out.)
Amber Wiederholt sparkles as Charlotte Goodell, the reverend’s under-aged paramour, while Amanda McDermeit deserves a heap of praise as the young Charlotte’s over-bearing chaperone.
Whit Olson, Tanya Wilson, Anthony Ellis and Grace Cameron are a group of jovial German tourists whose source of delight is their homeland’s bombing of London — again, playing to the show’s darker themes.
Lastly, Mack Melvin and John Thompson are a delight as a pair of Latino cabin boys who gleefully bag a stray iguana, thus giving the production its title. ]
