Susan Boilek Smith

Fresh serving of ‘Spitfire Grill’ in Hamilton County

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By John Lyle Belden

A balm for hard times, Carmel Community Players returns us to Gilead, Wis., with a new production of “The Spitfire Grill” at The Switch Theatre in Fishers.

Based on the 1996 film, this musical by old friends Fred Alley and James Valcq premiered Off-Broadway in 2001 and has seen many community stagings, including at Westfield in 2023. However, according to licensing agent Concord Theatricals, the show is “newly revised in 2024.” A quick Google didn’t yield details; it appears to us that any changes are subtle, as this is still an uplifting story of redemption – personal and community-wide – with a charm more genuine than the typical “Hallmark” movie romance.

Set around 1990, Percy (Breanna Helms), a young woman released on parole, arrives in this small forest town which she saw featured in an old travel magazine. Though peaceful and located on a trout stream, Gilead is dying as the nearby quarry closed, a major highway bypassed the town, and the celebrated foliage was diminished by logging. Sheriff Joe Sutter (Zach Hoover), the lone lawman and thus Percy’s parole officer, dreams of selling the plot of land he’ll inherit and taking the next bus out. Hannah Ferguson (Susan Boilek Smith) runs the Spitfire Grill, which she has had on the market for 14 years since her husband died.

The Grill is also the only boarding house, and job, for Percy, who takes on serving duties, then is cast almost literally “into the fire” with cooking when Hannah is injured in a fall. We also meet Hannah’s nephew Caleb Thorpe (John Whitaker), who was a foreman at the quarry and is not doing much better in local real estate; his wife, Shelby (Sarah Marone-Sowers), the one thing he feels control over, who he grudgingly allows to help Percy at the Grill; and Effy Krayneck (Christine Sanserino), proprietor of the local combination general store and Post Office, as well as voracious town gossip.

In addition, every night, Hannah leaves out a fresh loaf of bread for a mysterious visitor (Brandon Wentz).

The plot turns on a scheme, introduced by Percy and embraced by Shelby and Hannah, to give the Spitfire Grill to a worthy new owner in a mail-in raffle (Sheriff Joe sings that it’s legal, so don’t come at us with any contrary Wisconsin law). What this does for the town and its residents is fairly predictable, but really nice to watch play out – with only a couple of dramatic bumps on the way.

Under the expert direction of Kathleen Clarke Horrigan, Helms bravely tests the limits of her singing voice while perfectly portraying both Percy’s ex-con attitude and the tenderness she becomes comfortable to reveal. Hoover handsomely presents the Mayberry-esque demeanor appropriate to Sheriff Joe. Marone-Sowers gently portrays good-natured Shelby’s personal growth arc complementary to Percy’s. Whitaker keeps Caleb more stressed than sinister. Sanserino makes Effy a pill, but not entirely unlikable as she acts not out of spite, but her own odd way of striving to belong. Wentz’s mute role speaks volumes.

Smith, a steady stage veteran, is excellent as Hannah in all her maternal aspects. Considering she was Effy in the Westfield production makes an interesting contrast and tribute to her skill that she nailed both roles.

The simple stage set by Jonas Hildreth is enhanced by backstage projections designed by Cassidy Lane, adding atmosphere to the opening number and awe to Percy’s second-act number, “Shine.”

Behold CCP’s “colors of paradise” at The Switch Theatre in Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, 10029 126th Street, Fishers. Performances of “The Spitfire Grill” are 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 5-8. Get tickets at carmelplayers.org.

CCP shows its strength

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By John Lyle Belden

The title of the play, “Steel Magnolias,” written by Robert Harling based on events in his life, refers to the fact that – as one character remarks – men are expected to be pillars of strength, yet women are like hardy flowers of even stronger mettle.

Carmel Community Players presents a mostly-female production of this Off- and on Broadway hit (also made into a beloved film in 1988), directed by Elizabeth Ruddell.

The action takes place in Chinquapin Parish, northwest Louisiana, but we hear all about it at Truvy’s Beauty Shop. We open on an eventful day: Truvy (Casey Clouser) has just hired young Annelle (Phoebe Aldridge) as assistant beautician, then Shelby (Emily Haus), daughter of M’Lynn (Tanya Haas), one of the shop’s regulars, arrives to prepare for her wedding that day. Clairee (Susan Boilek Smith), the town’s former first lady, arrives from the dedication of the local football field to her late husband. Local curmudgeon Oiser (Gabrielle Patterson) storms in, this time upset at M’Lynn’s husband – who has also annoyed the whole neighborhood with his efforts to scare birds away from the backyard wedding site.

Time advances through more scenes, giving us insight into both the changes in these women’s lives and how their bonds stay strong and true. There is plenty of good humor, with numerous funny lines and zingers like a sitcom, but flowing naturally like true friends talk. There is also a cloud of misfortune that will eventually overtake them, testing their steel. Even if you know this or have seen it before, this cast keeps the feelings raw and real.

Haus presents Shelby in all her stubborn, upbeat, brave glory. Haas epitomizes the hard strength of the title, making it all the more impactful when she reaches her limit. Aldridge charms, taking us on the curious complex arc of sweet Annelle’s many changes, inevitably for the better. Smith gives us someone who knows she’s a VIP but would rather have fun with it than lord it over anyone. Her fierce loyalty to lifelong best friend Oiser says a lot about her character. Speaking of whom, Patterson gives us a force of nature like a Louisiana hurricane, yet always true to the ladies in this circle.

If you haven’t, we highly recommend you also see the movie with its all-star cast, including Dolly Parton as Truvy. Clouser is a living tribute with her accent and blonde wig, while making the character her own. We never forget this is her house, after all.

Other salutes to the film include a Dolly portrait on the wall (her hits play while we wait for the play to start) and Annelle’s cat-eye glasses like Darryl Hannah wore in the role.

Haas is also producer. Other “Magnolias” involved include stage manager Samantha Kelly, lights by Karissa Henschen (with Doug Vann), and sound by Lori Raffel. “Honorary Magnolia” Jason Creighton provides the good-ol’-boy voice on the radio.

Entertaining and emotional, find some Southern charm up north in Carmel. “Steel Magnolias” plays Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 10-13, at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way. Get info and tickets at carmelplayers.org or thecat.biz.

Soothing story of ‘Spitfire Grill’ in Westfield

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By John Lyle Belden

“The Spitfire Grill,” a musical presented by Main Street Productions in Westfield, takes place in the Wisconsin wilderness town of Gilead. The name of this fictional yet familiar place carries significance from Bible and literary references to the “balm of Gilead,” an actual medicine in antiquity, and since then a poetic name for a soothing cure.

For one young woman, Percy (played by Chrissy Crawley), the balm comes in the form of a beautiful autumn picture clipped from a magazine. Paroled after five years in prison, she travels to the town in that image. Upon arriving, Sheriff Joe Sutter (Scott Fleshood) tells her the foliage has gone for the winter and there is hardly anything in Gilead except for the run-down diner. Being the only job, and boarding room, for miles, she stays at the Spitfire Grill with its flinty but fair owner, Hannah (Georgeanna Teipen).

Treated with suspicion, especially by local mail-carrier and town gossip Effy (Susan Boilek Smith) and Hannah’s agitated nephew Caleb (Daniel Draves), Percy is off to a rough start. But Caleb’s wife, Shelby (Katelyn Maudlin), comes out of her shyness to befriend the newcomer. Then, while discussing Hannah’s long-unfulfilled desire to sell the Spitfire, they come up with a clever idea to give it away.

“Something’s cooking at the Spitfire Grill,” indeed.

Tom Riddle completes the cast as a mysterious visitor, out beyond the woodshed.

This musical, by James Valcq and Fred Alley, based on the 1990s film by Lee David Zlotoff, is directed for Main Street Productions by Brenna Whitaker, with a cozy set by Ian Marshall-Fisher, stage managed by Tonya Rave. The result is a sweet story of starting an unlikely comeback, whether it’s from prison walls or a nowhere town with scrub trees and an abandoned quarry.

Crawley gives us a complex character, equal parts tough and sweet – with both traits serving her well. Teipen imbues her maternal role with the right amount of sass. Fleshood embraces the Mayberry style of charming and respected lawman, apt for this setting. Draves appropriately makes Caleb increasingly harder to like but stops short of villainy. In contrast, Maudlin has Shelby continuously rise to the occasion. Smith adds a little intrigue and a bit of comic relief with her constant busybody.

The original Off-Broadway production in late 2001 was noteworthy for giving audiences some American spirit when they most needed it. We’ve been through a lot in the last few years, as well, so this could be good for what ails you. Find your balm in Gilead, taking a seat at “The Spitfire Grill” with performances through April 23 at the Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St. Get info and tickets at WestfieldPlayhouse.org.

Review: Footlite’s ‘Gypsy’ a triumph

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By John Lyle Belden

It’s regarded as the story of the ultimate “stage mom,” a helicopter parent from before those birds were invented. “Gypsy,” based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee and her relationship with her Mama Rose, is at Footlite Musicals through May 22.

We meet Rose and young daughters Baby June and Louise as the girls sing and dance for a Seattle talent show. But Mama’s ambitions run much higher, getting an act centered on June – with lesser-talented Louise blended in with backup boys – on the vaudeville circuits all the way to Broadway. But as the girls grow up and vaudeville fades (weakened by the “talkies” and Depression before its eventual demise at the feet of TV), Rose keeps pushing despite the odds, famously declaring “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”

The word “awesome” is so overused in this era, but is the most appropriate adjective for Susan Boilek Smith as Rose. She inhabits this tiger mom with claws out all the way, making us feel for her and root for her, even when her ways seem too overbearing or her fast-talk borders on grift. Fortunately, Rich Baker is well able to keep up as Rose’s longsuffering companion, Herbie.

A quick salute to Rogue Salyers as Baby June and Brynn Elliott as little Louise, a good start to hopefully long careers or avocation on stage. After a strobe-lit time transition, Stacia Ann Hulen excellently slips in as Dainty June.

Elise Annette Delap plays teen/adult Louise, barely able to keep her immense talent under the facade of her “untalented” character. (Playing a skilled seamstress who eventually found international fame on the burlesque stage, perhaps she wasn’t so lacking after all.) Her strong portrayal matches well with Smith as a force of nature, revealing that this is the story of two women, each strong and wonderful in her own way.

As for the supporting cast, it’s a pity that Noah Nordman as chorus-boy Tulsa only gets one song.

As those familiar with the musical know, the title “Gypsy” refers to the life Rose, Herbie and the kids live in their pursuit of fame, as well as the blossoming Gypsy Rose that Louise becomes. We meet strippers in the “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” scene, and Delap as Lee does a little “teasing,” but there’s no real nudity, keeping this largely an all-ages show.

Footlite Musicals is in the Hedback Theater, 1847 N. Alabama St., just north of downtown Indy. Call 317-926-6630 or see footlite.org.

(Review also posted at The Word)