Percy ponders her place in a less than picture perfect world during Carmel Community Players’ latest show. (Photo by Rob Slaven / IndyGhostLight.com)
By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com
Starting this weekend, Carmel Community Players (CCP) is taking audiences to the tiny town of Gilead, Wis., for an inspirational musical story called The Spitfire Grill, staging at The Switch Theatre, 10029 126th St., Fishers, from Feb. 27 through March 8.
If you’ve seen the 1996 movie, you still need to see the play because, according to CCP Director Kathleen Horrigan, the play is very different in significant ways.
“They made the movie into a musical and I didn’t love the movie,” Horrigan said. “The movie is very different, especially the last half of it. The main character drowns. When I heard that they had made a musical of it, I thought, ‘No, wait a minute. You can’t have that kind of an ending.’”
Horrigan said she was familiar with the music from the Broadway play, but not the play itself. Once she read the script, she understood the allure of this show.
“I fell in love with the spirit of it and how they changed it,” Horrigan told The Reporter. “I saw that a lot of theaters were doing it because of the storyline, and then I looked deeper into it. It opened on Broadway right before Sept. 11, 2001, and of course it had to close for a little bit. Then when it reopened, it closed in October of 2001 because people weren’t going to the theater. I think that’s why it’s been under-represented. I think more people should have paid attention to it because the music is lovely and the storyline is heartwarming and about redemption.”
The story centers around Percy, a spirited parolee who follows her dreams to the small town of Gilead, hoping to create a new life for herself. She takes a job working at the Spitfire Grill, which has long been up for sale with no takers. Percy convinces its owner, Hannah, to raffle it off with a letter-writing contest, and the entire town is changed as a result in this story of perseverance, grace, and friendship.
CCP’s Percy is a woman named Breanna Helms, whom Horrigan has worked with before.
“In looking at this show, I had no idea that she was interested in auditioning for it,” Horrigan said. “I wasn’t even expecting her to come to auditions and actually, she wasn’t either, but at the last minute she decided, ‘You know what? I think I want to work with Kathleen again.’ That was very thoughtful. Once she came on, the staff and I said she’s the best choice.”
Horrigan told The Reporter she has been very fortunate with all of her cast and crew, right down to the actor who has no lines in the play.
“I was extremely lucky that a gentlemen came who had played the part before several years ago,” Horrigan said. “He understood it completely and got it hands down. I’m so grateful to have him because that was a worry of mine.”
This show is a musical, and while the actors will be singing live, the music is pre-recorded. One reason for that is because of the venue itself, but the playwright also scored the play to use music in the background to set tone and mood. That tracked music does, however, impose strict timing on the actors.
“This show is underscored during a lot of the dialogue,” Horrigan said. “They decided that they wanted music underneath it like a movie, so we know exactly how long this show is going to last every night. Fortunately for us, our tech person in charge of that has been coming to rehearsals to get a feel for where we need to start this and what it’s going to look like. It’s made the rehearsal process go a lot smoother since she’s invested and said she wanted to help by getting to know the show and knowing when things are going to happen.”
When talking to The Reporter, Horrigan repeatedly gave most of the credit for how good this show will be to the people around her.
“I like to surround myself with great people, and I’ve been very fortunate to continue to make good connections,” Horrigan said. “A lot of times it’s hit or miss with technical people because none of us get paid in community theater. To find someone that is this dedicated – again the whole team – I’m so grateful.”
Because of mature themes, this play is recommended for audiences at least 13 and older.
The Spitfire Grill is on stage at The Switch Theatre, 10029 126th St., Fishers, through March 8. Get your tickets online as CarmelPlayers.org or by calling (317) 815-9387.
Forgiveness, fellowship, fresh starts, and life lessons are always on the menu at The Spitfire Grill. (Photo by Rob Slaven / IndyGhostLight.com)
