The Debtante Ball
Today my friend Ashley and I went to see the Debutante Ball at the University of Montana. The play was written by Beth Henley. The play is set in Hattiesburg, Miss., at the Turner family’s mansion.
When we first meet Mrs. Turner, the mother, played by Robin Lindsey Rose, she is conducting a walk-through with her youngest daughter, Teddy, on how to enter her debutante ball. This part is sure to get a laugh from the audience as they watch Teddy, played by Nora Munde Gustuson, struggle to walk elegantly down stairs while stretching her neck out and holding her chin up.
I did not expect this play to be so good or to keep me so interested.
I was pleasantly surprised. The plot had a nice twist, it was funny and dramatic. I was impressed by all the actors.
I assumed by the title that the play would be about, well, a debutante ball, full of snotty southern bells. It was about a family and their struggle to overcome the past. They hope that the ball will be a new start for them and elevate them in the eyes of society. Unfortunately their past sticks with them.
It was nice to go see a play I actually enjoyed. When I went to Sheridan College I took a required theatre/drama class and we had to go see a lot of plays. I usually found my self fidgeting in my seat and checking my watch every five minutes.
Today, when the intermission came I looked at my watch and saw that an hour had already passed. I was so intrigued by the play that I hadn’t checked the time once.
If the Debutante Ball comes to your town, you should check it out. It is worth the time and the ticket price ($12).
I love seeing plays. Even high school plays, sometimes there’s some really great young actors. I would love to be rich and live in New York City where you could see Broadway plays with big actors and big budgets. There’s something wholesome and real when everything is live and there are no do-overs.
Words by Kristin on April 9, 2006 at 10:14 am | #
So this is pretty random, but my name is Seth Bowling and I played Brighton in Debutante Ball. So I’ve been pretty bummed this week, because being an Acting Major at UM you are required to go to faculty feedback for every performance you’ve been cast in, and this week I had mine. Needless to say the male faculty members didn’t like the play at all, but I thought it was an AMAZING experience, so I went google-ing for reviews of Deb. Ball and I found this, and I just want to say thank you! It was so much fun, the entire experience of the show was fantastic and I wish more people could’ve seen it. I’m really happy that you were intrigued by the story and the performance. Beth Henley is an amazing playwrite and I’m feel fortunate to have had the chance to be in one of her plays! Once again, you made my day better!
Words by Seth on April 28, 2006 at 9:26 pm | #