After an emotional end to 2009, the La Crosse Community Theatre makes a triumphant return with its heartwarming production of Driving Miss Daisy. The Tony Award-winning play written by Alfred Uhry follows the development of an unlikely friendship between the stubborn Miss Daisy Werthan and her gentle African American chauffeur, Hoke. Through a series of vignettes, the play spans the 1940s, Civil Rights era and beyond. The roles were most notably portrayed on film by Jessica Tandy, who won an Academy Award, and the great Morgan Freeman.
Expectations were high, but a calm and collected cast of three gave a nearly sold-out auditorium 90 minutes of pure magic. Suzanne Young shined as the strong yet delicate Miss Daisy Werthan, gliding around the stage with grace and elegance. Young successfully captured the character’s digression, as the name Daisy suggests, like a wilting flower slowly losing its beauty and vigor.
As Miss Daisy’s concerned and loving son Boolie, Sean McDevitt commanded the stage with his booming voice and larger than life personality.
However, it was William E. Hicks’ portrayal of the compassionately naïve chauffeur Hoke that swept a wave of hope throughout the audience. As Hoke, Hick’s perseveres through Daisy’s initial unabashed outbursts of annoyance but shows softness as the years progress and Daisy adapts to him.
All three actors captured the aging of their characters throughout the 25 years, but the digression would have been more effective had it not been so abrupt. A gradual wearing away of character would have stirred more emotion in the audience.
Young and Hicks create beautiful moments together, and the opening-night audience seemed captivated by the scenes inside the many vehicles Miss Daisy owned throughout the years. The stage is too small to fit an actual car, so the actors used pantomime and sound cues to suggest reality.
Director Greg Parmeter should be applauded for his skillful crafting of this beautiful story, transporting the audience through simple yet tumultuous times in American history. Dillon McArdle designed a visually pleasing set using donated antique furniture and brought life to simplicity with his beautiful lighting. Kevin Laumbach masterfully transformed the auditorium into the various locales around Atlanta, Georgia through sound, while Leslie Bates beautifully transformed the characters through costume.
Driving Miss Daisy is a show that brings us hope, warmth, laughter and tears. In the words of Boolie Werthan, “Driving Miss Daisy is sure a doodle.”
The show continues its run at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4-6 and Feb. 11-13 and 2 p.m. Feb. 7 and 14. |
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