If you go
› What: “Holiday Memories”› Where: Gem Theater, 700 Tennessee Ave., Etowah, Tenn.› When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 14-16; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17› Admission: $12 adults, $8 children ages 12 and younger.› For more information: 423-263-3270
Craig Laing, left, plays Truman Capote in Gem Players' production of "Christmas Memories." Virginia Orr is cast as Miss Sook and Koltin Thompson is Buddy.Four performances remain in the Gem Players production of Truman Capote's "Holiday Memories" at the historic Gem Theater in Etowah, Tenn., Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 14-17.
This heartwarming production of Capote's autobiography includes "The Thanksgiving Visitor" and "A Christmas Memory." These seasonal classics are adapted to the stage by Russell Vandenbrouche.
Although the stories are memories, they are told in the present tense, which gives them a certain immediacy. Written by Capote while in college, as if a backward glance at his childhood, the stories trace a month of pre-Thanksgiving and Christmas doings in his parentless, poor household.
The 7-year-old Buddy and his "friend" - a distant, eccentric and, in those times, elderly (mid-60s), cousin - prepare several dozen fruitcakes and mail them to people they admire. Gathering pecans from those left behind in the harvest, buying illegally made whiskey for soaking the cakes, getting a little tipsy on the leftovers, cutting their own tree and decorating it with homemade ornaments are some of the adventures the two share.
Craig Laing portrays Capote as an adult and interacts with young Truman (Buddy).
Miss Sook is played by Virginia Orr. She is Buddy's innocent and child-like cousin. She calls him "Buddy" because she lost a childhood friend named Buddy. As the two short plays blend into one, Miss Sook teaches Buddy more about friendship than money or material possessions. She thinks she is different and she says she is "funny," but Buddy says she is "fun." They are best friends.
Koltin Thompson returns to the Gem stage to play the character of 7-year-old Buddy. The role is intended to be played by a young adult because of Capote's lyrical language.
After making her debut in "The Sugar Bean Sisters," Deborah Richards returns to the Gem stage playing several roles such as 103-year-old Aunt Mary, the schoolteacher, Capote's mother and his aunt.
Rounding out the cast are J.W. Lee, Aaron Haney and Amberly Richards.
Director LaMone Rose says, "I think you will never be the same once you meet Sook, Buddy and Truman."
For more information: gemplayers.com.