Jackson Community College

            For the Theatre Company cast at Jackson Community College, the latest production has been a fun learning experience that promises to be fun for audience members.  The Theatre Company presents the farce "Lily, the Felon's Daughter," a Gay Nineties melodrama, on March 2-5 at 8 p.m. and March 6 at 3 p.m. in Baughman Theater, Potter Center.  

            "This is great fun," said Ann Holt, director of the production.  "The audience will be encouraged to 'boo' and 'hiss' the Villainous Craven Sinclair and 'cheer' and applaud our Hero Compton and Heroine Lily Fairweather." 

            Lily, the Felon's Daughter," is a tear jerker set in 1890s Boston that tells the sad but silly story of Lily Fairweather, pure as the driven snow; of Compton, her weak but handsome sweetheart -- and how villain Craven Sinclair thwarts their plans for everlasting bliss.  The production includes 11 characters and one little black dog, accompanied by Stephen Murphy on piano.  Melodrama itself actually means "a play with music." This lighthearted production will include musical themes for chases, fights, and to let the audience know when the villain is up to no good. 

            "The script is full of words like 'levee' (a formal reception), used to refer to a party, and titivate (spruce up), used to describe someone getting ready for the party, which we had to research!" Holt added. 

            Production stage manager and costumer Sandy DiCesare, who has taught acting at JCC in the past, taught the cast and crew about Francois Delsarte, French acting and vocal teacher from the 1800s who created a system of combining speech, movement and gesture to convey emotion.  The Delsarte system was embraced throughout the world by the end of the 19^th century.  "This way of moving looks funny to today's audiences, but everyone will understand the meaning of the gestures," Holt said. 

            She notes that playwright Arthur Miller, who recently died, mentioned in a 1995 interview that his first experience with theatre that started him on the road to writing such plays as "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible" was attending a melodrama with his mother when he was 8 years old.     

            "The play is a good play for the family," DiCesare said. "It is great, silly fun."

            Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.  Call 796-8600 for tickets or more information.

Cast

Lily Fairweather, as Pure as the Driven Snow................................................ Tabetha Zeoli

Betsy Fairweather, as Gentle as a Lamb......................................................... Eileen Leinhart

Compton, her Son, as Handsome as a Greek God......................................... Addison DeWitt

Jonas Fairweather, as True as Blue................................................................. Thomas Hutt

Craven Sinclair, as Poisonous as a Toad........................................................ Jared P. Cole

Miss Ophelia, as Plain as the Nose on Your Face.......................................... Sheri Grant

Robin Steel, as Black as Coal......................................................................... Kurt Snyder

Mrs. Kingsley, as Sound as a Dollar............................................................... Sarah Ranck

Mrs. Bloodgood, as Mean as Dirt.................................................................. Monica Sanders

Marie, the Maid, as Busy as Bee..................................................................... Jenny Compau

Lord Montmorency, as English as an Englishman......................................... Paul Yau

The Puppy, innocent pup................................................................................ Arrow

2005 Production Cast

Director ............................................................................................ Ann Holt

Set Design......................................................................................... Michael Coy

Music................................................................................................ Stephen Murphy

Production Stage Manager/Costumer................................................. Sandy DiCesare

Technical Director.............................................................................. Michael Coy

Assistant Technical Directors.............................................................. Jeff Chatfield, Patti Clark

Set Construction................................................................................ Basic Stage Craft Class and Company Members

Light Board Operator......................................................................... Koren Steller

Backstage Crew................................................................................ Kristen Trumble, Kat Wrozek, Ashley Petrakovitz and Samantha Davis                                                                                           

House Manager................................................................................. Glenn Prater

Costume Assistants............................................................................ Patti Clark, Jenny Compau, Lynn Compau, Eileen Leinhart

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