Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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SpitFire Grill Is on Stage at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre by JANICE BURTON What if you were given the opportunity to reinvent yourself from the ground up? Picture this: a new place to live, new friends, new job ... your past is behind you and your future is a clean slate. Would you do it? Could you do it? And if you did, would you really have left the old you behind? Those are some of the questions tackled in the heart-warming musical, The Spitfi re Grill, now on stage at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Directed by David F. Chapman, a New York City-based director, The Spitfi re Grill tells the story of Percy Talbott, a young woman recently released from prison, who decides to literally begin again. Her new life, she decides, will be in Spitfi re, Wis., a small town she randomly picked. Talbott, played by Rhyn McLemore, is looking to reinvent herself. "I really identify with her journey of self-discovery," said McLemore. "For her it's about learning to forgive her past mistakes, learning to identify herself and learning to give herself grace." Percy has some help along the way in the form of the local townspeople who come to welcome her to Spitfi re. The fi rst person she meets is the sheriff, played by Daniel Hines. Hines, a CFRT veteran was most recently on stage at Miss Saigon. For the sheriff, Percy's arrival in their town, is something of a sign. "Sheriff Joe has a restless spirit," explains Hines. "He has a desire to get up and move around. Everyone in Spitfi re was born and raised here, and Joe has a desire to leave and see other places and things. When Percy comes to town, she really shakes things up, and for the fi rst time, Joe thinks he might want to stay." After his fi rst encounter with Percy, the sheriff fi nds her a job at the Spitfi re Grill. The grill is run by Hannah Ferguson, played by Libby Seymour. Ferguson is the catalyst to introduce Talbott to the town. "Hannah has served the town folks for oh so many years," said Seymour, "and when Percy comes to town, the sheriff brings her over to the grill for a job and a 2 Tickets to the Christian Classic Tour March 31st at Northwood Temple. ENTER TO WIN! PLUS Dinner for two at a local restaurant! Name_________________________________________________________ Phone Number__________________________________________________ Email_________________________________________________________ Please send completed entry form to Up & Coming Weekly, 208 Rowan St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 or fax to 910.484.9218 by March 23, 2012. Jason's Deli is supporting the @vxhThr Uhy HvAhrrvyyr 9tqArvhy by hosting a fundraiser event March 22, 2012 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Dine In & Pick Up A portion of the total fundraising sales will be donated! Raffl es • FREE Ice Cream 419 Cross Creek Mall 910-860-0253 12 UCW MARCH 14-20, 2012 For Info & Menu www. jasonsdeli.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM HrthGr Fhvxv UrrHvAhrrvyyr 9tqArvhy BhprGvqr Uu `tHvAhrrvyyr 9tqArvhy Hhqv 6yvvhChyy EvHvAhrrvyyr 9tqArvhy 8huTpuyhuvHvXvr TpuyhuvutuHruqvVvrv AU88AhrrvyyrThrVvrv 6yvphvyvr shqtqsrvhy pphyy) ' ' $$ !(!! '&"&#&% & # Thqh 6vy& ! !h&) 6tr% !!88rr6qvv room. Our relationship plays into her becoming a part of the town." "Part of the question that has to be answered in the play is how far can you get away from your history, and much can you reinvent yourself," explained Chapman. "And for the people in the town, one of the questions that has to be answered is how do you react when people start questioning things that you have done for years and years." The questions and the answers can be found in the music, which moves the story along. The music is based around traditional folk music, but with an Appalachian feel, so that it comes out a little blue grass. "People are going to feel like they have heard this music before, but it is all new and was written just for the show," said Chapman. This is Chapman's directing debut at the CFRT, which he feels has helped him get to the heart of the musical. "I really connect to this theatre and to the material in the show," he said. "Moving here from out of town and not knowing anyone, puts me in the right framework to approach this show and to tell the story." He explained that while the show's cast is small, only seven members, it is not an easy story to tell. "Each character has a lot of change and growth. They all have a lot to learn. If you look at the show from the outside, you would think it's pretty easy. There's seven people, one set, but once you really get into it, it takes emotional guts, insight and intelligence to really execute." He said the show can be viewed on a lot of levels, noting that some people may walk away with just a great afternoon of entertainment, while others will take away something deeper that they can share in their lives and in their homes. "There's a lot of humor and there's tenderness and darkness and some tough things to deal with as well," Chapman said. The play runs through April 1. For showtimes and tickets, visit the CFRT webiste at www.cfrt.org.