and more Front Royal rings in the season - Warren County Report

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By Malcolm Barr, Sr.
Warren County Report
Set in the Shenandoah Valley,
the locally written, reprise presentation
at Wayside Theatre couldn’t
be more appropriate or magical for
the holidays
Many saw and thrilled to the
world premiere of “Glory Bea! A
Shenandoah Christmas Story”
last year. They are calling this edition
a world premiere also, and it’s
worth the grandiosity even though
it is only slightly changed (for the
better) from the earlier show. It’s
smoother, sometimes funnier,
and it is grandly acted from the
10-year-old in the title role to the
two veteran professionals in the
cast, Thomasin Savaiano (Annie
Thorne) and Steve Przybylski
(Mike) who literally makes an ass
of himself in an otherwise poignant
story.
Each of the players is double
cast so we will describe those on
stage at the opening night Nov. 5
and mention the others as we go
along.
For example, we saw Hannah
Marteeny, 10, sing and act her little
heart out in her Wayside debut a
week ago Sunday; you may see last
year’s Gloriana Beatrice Thorne,
Audrey Nakagawa, 1 , in her third
Christmas show at Wayside. Either
way, both kids are both endearing
and entertaining.
Hats off to a trio of country music
virtuosos – Przybylski, also music
director and composer; Jody Lee,
who doubles as Gabe and the Rev.
Hite; and Jason Labrador (Zeke).
The musicians carry the show
along briskly, complementing the
story teller, bass fiddler Lee.
Richard Follett was there on
opening night to see his new and
improved masterpiece which he
collaborated on with former Wayside
favorite Larry Dahlke, now relocated
to Chicago. Przbylski, who
last year alternated with the popular
local vocalist and musician
Robbie Limon, scored the music
and this year shares the part of a
guitar-playing donkey with Darrell
Johnston. Limon was in the
audience this time and liked the
changes made in the current show.
Incidentally, Limon performs in
a benefit show at the Wayside
December 9. Tickets may still be
available.
“Glory Bea” is about a family
living somewhere north of Harrisonburg
finding it hard to make
ends meet in the depression of the
1930s. We all know what a recession
is today; try a depression. Dad
( Benjamin Reed as John Thorne)
has to leave home to work for
the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) creating what is now known
as Skyline Drive. He leaves his wife,
Annie, at home and pregnant, with
daughter Glory Bea, to tend the
farm. It’s a tough life as a hurricane
blows through (the 1930s version
of Sandy?) and winter arrives.
Thorne has promised to return
by Christmas. We saw Reed do a
credible job with the dad role; you
may see Bob Payne in the cameo.
Leslie Putnam plays school
teacher Sarah Perkins convincingly,
whipping her rowdy class into
relatively good order in time for
the nativity play. Theresa McGuirk
will be a familiar face to many as
she takes her turn as teacher Sarah.
She first appeared at Wayside nine
years ago in “A Christmas Carol.”
Kimberly Braun joins Wayside
this holiday season to alternate
with Savaiano as Annie.
The kids who are pivotal to this
cast vary in age, the youngest,
Early December, 01 • Warren County Report • Page 17
Thomas Bauserman, 8. The others
include Patrick Bauserman,
13; John Carter in the 3rd grade at
Middletown Elementary; Cherith
Pilong, 8th grader who likes to sing
and (tap) dance; Tyler Plazio, 11, of
Warren County; Jessica Shostek,
also a Middletown Elementary
third grader; Jackson Sirbaugh, 11,
class president at Daniel Morgan
Middle School; Brady Spaid, also
Wayside Theater
‘Glory Bea! A Shenandoah Christmas Story’ ushers in holiday
from Daniel Morgan; Amanda
Willis, a performer for the Young
Artists of America in Washington,
D.C.; and Natalie Youngblood, a
straight A 5th grader.
Most of the above are members
or graduates of Wayside’s Young
Performers’ Workshop or the
Young Ambassadors’ Guild.
Wes Calkin and J. Clinedinst
collaborated on a splendidly scenic
backdrop; costumes were in the
capable hands of Caleb Blackwell.
Warner Crocker directed.
“Glory Bea!” Runs through December
4; Weekend matinees at
:30 p.m.; Sunday performances at
6:30; Wednesday-Saturday evening
performances at 7:30; Christmas
Eve matinee at 1:30 p.m. Several
performances have already sold
out. Call (540) 869-1776 for tickets
and further information.
(Malcolm Barr, Sr. is a retired journalist,
federal government public
relations director; and a past executive
member (secretary) of Wayside’s
board of directors.)