Fresh corn in Lynden
Theatre has Faith
by Christopher Key
Having performed in one of Mark Landon Smith’s shows about the fictional Faith County, I have to assume he’s trying to be funny when he notes, “The characters in the play are real people, not caricatures, who should be played with sincerity.” Since they are all written as caricatures, it’s something of an odd note to append to the scripts.
Fortunately, first-time director Stephanie Maksin has given that note the credibility it deserves in her production of Faith County opening this week at the Claire vg Thomas Theatre in Lynden. She allows her actors to inhabit the community of Farceville, which is where this play belongs. Her actors respond with wonderful verve and take this script to Overthetoptown.
Laura Nelson owns the show as Mildred Carson, the town busybody who will cheerfully run over anyone who happens to get crosswise with her. Her theatrical chops are such that she provided the sound effects for ambulance sirens when they were not forthcoming from the tech booth. The moment was classic and should be kept in rather than correcting the sound cues.
I suppose I should provide a disclaimer and admit that Olivia Shrum is a relative. She has apparently inherited a lot of theatrical talent from somewhere and far be it from me to suggest where. She is delightfully ditzy as Fay McFaye, the town tramp and would-be poet. See the play before you accuse me of nepotism.
Theatrical newcomer Jamie Crenshaw astonishes with her polished performance as Naomi Farkle, a hairdresser who thinks teased hair and beehives are the only options. She is a perfect match for veteran Chris Jones, whose “Aww, shucks” performance as her fiancée is dead-on.
One of the constant delights of seeing a show at Lynden is the presence of Lorin Weidenaar, whose portrayal of Bubba Bedford seems to stem from his theatrical training at the University of Mars. Kay West is another theatrical newcomer who belies that inexperience as the Bible-quoting Ruthann Barns.
The citizens of Faith County try to keep a straight face as Bubba marries Naomi to Luther.
Carole May is a female Foster Brooks and delivers a hilariously hammered performance as the drunken Gladys Pimbleton, who passes away rather than out with a face-plant in the piano. Playing the enormously pregnant Violet Farkle is no easy task for one who has not been there, but Ashley Hanson makes it look very authentic with outstanding physicality.
Rossner Gideon gets only brief moments onstage, but makes the most of them as Fay McFaye’s object of affection who is more enamored of spark plugs than of sparking.
Set designers Jeanne Crabtree and Steve Orfanos seem to have imported the whole thing from the county fair that we all remember and their use of a Porta-pottie is ingenious. The multi-talented Heather Storey stage manages and gets credit for the props along with Laura Nelson. A special shout-out goes to sound designer Diana Powell, a Tennessee girl who knows her country music.
Faith County plays September 30 through October 18 at the Claire vg Thomas Theatre, 655 Front Street in Lynden. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $8 for children ages 3 – 8. Call the box office at (360) 354-4425 for reservations. For more information, see www.clairevgtheatre.org.
This show will put a lot of yeeee in your hawwww.
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