MAUMELLE — The Angel of Death will make a local stop when The Maumelle Players present a play on how people treat the elderly.
The community theater group will present Gladys in Wonderland by Rosemary Frisino Toohey on Friday through Nov. 6 and again Nov. 11-13. Show times are 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle. The final Sunday show will be interpreted for the hard-of hearing.
“This is definitely a play about how we treat the elderly, but it is a comedy,” said Victor Werner, the show’s director. “When the Angel of Death visits Gladys, he brings several people to see her. From her brother, Frank, to her best friend, Mildred, they all are obnoxious and condescending. He also takes her to visit a nursing home. In the end, she decides death is better. This play shows us that the only difference in us and people in Gladys’ situation is the date on the calendar.”
Eloise Kalb is assisting with the show’s direction.
Toohey’s play was first produced in 1999 as part of the Baltimore Playwrights Festival.
Three members of the cast are making their debuts with The Maumelle Players - Jim Narey, Liz Adams and Maria Johnson, all of Maumelle.
◊Narey plays Frank, Gladys’ younger brother.
“I treat [Gladys] with disdain and irritation,” he said of his character. “Frank has always treated her that way, and Gladys never cared; she still doesn’t.”
Narey graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and theater arts. He has acted in numerous productions at UCA and other places. He is the director of planning and zoning for the city of Maumelle.
Narey said acting in this play is “a good relaxation” for him.
◊Adams plays Lillian, a nursing-home resident. Not only is this her debut with The Maumelle Players; it is also her debut onstage. She volunteers with The Maumelle Players and is an adviser to the board.
While this is her first time onstage, Adams has done voice overs for TV, radio and business announcements. She has been in the financial planning industry for 25 years and has been with Raymond James Financial Services Inc. as branch manager for 14 years. She is also the vice chairman for the Arkansas Independent Living Council.
◊Johnson plays Ethel, who is a nursing-home resident. “I let Gladys know what it’s like in a nursing home,” Johnson said of her character.
She said her love for theater began at McClellan High School in Little Rock while she was taking lessons at The Arkansas Repertory Theater.Johnson is a nanny, taking care of two children.
Veteran cast members in Gladys in Wonderland include the following:
◊Marcia McCardle of Little Rock plays Gladys’ granddaughter, Doris. “I narrate the story about Gladys,” she said. “I talk about how worried I am about her; she’s getting worse and worse.”
Prior to performing with The Maumelle Players, McCardle appeared in many performances at the Arts and Sciences for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff. When not acting, she has filled roles as props manager and assistant stage manager and helped with the design and painting of sets. She has recently become a board member of The Maumelle Players.
McCardle works in the public relations office at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
◊Peggy Cromwell of Maumelle plays Gladys.
This is Cromwell’s fifth production with The Maumelle Players.
“This has been the most demanding character I’ve ever had to play,” she said of Gladys. “To project an 87-year-old body and mind is a pretty good challenge. It’s an interesting character, and I am enjoying it.
“This is a funny play with really good characters in it. It is definitely a commentary on the way we treat the elderly. It may cause some discomfort to some. But I hope in the end they will see the goodness in Gladys and maybe realize that we are all still human beings, regardless of our age. We all deserve respect and dignity.”
Cromwell is a retired school teacher.
◊Jeff Riggs of Little Rock plays Mort, the Angel of Death.
“My job as the Angel of Death, the Grim Reaper, is to be efficient and not to be involved with the clients I am sent to visit,” he said. “My job is to take people from one side over to the other side.
“This play is great. It’s very humorous but also very touching.”
Riggs works as an independent financial adviser in Little Rock and teaches ballroom dance in Maumelle.
◊Brian Tynes of Little Rock plays two characters, Dennis and Henry. “Dennis is a home-delivery person who is flamboyant and doesn’t listen to Gladys,” Tynes said. “Henry is her nephew who is middle aged and is using her.”
Tynes graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in radio/TV/film with a minor in theater arts.
◊Marilyn Baker of Little Rock plays Mildred, Gladys’ best friend since childhood.
“My character is very patronizing to Gladys,” Baker said. “I treat her like a second grader. I tell her to take care of this and that before she kicks the bucket.”
Baker works at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind and credits her work and husband, who is deaf, for helping her learn American Sign Language.
Baker will interpret the play for the hearing-impaired on Nov. 13.
“I work in the library at the deaf school and see all the kids,” she said with a smile. “They know I am going to be in this play, so we’re hoping for a large turnout of those who are hearing-impaired.”
◊Denise Loken of Maumelle plays Myrna, the second wife of Frank, Gladys’ son.
“I’m the much younger second wife,” Loken said with a smile.
Loken has not acted with the local troupe since 2008.
“It’s been a little while since I’ve been onstage, but I am having fun,” she said. “This is a good group.”
Loken is a stay-at-home mom and is treasurer for The Maumelle Players.
◊Erica Monday plays Karen, Gladys’ niece.
“She means well,” Monday said of her character, “but she treats Gladys like a child. She brings her bags and bags of old clothes for her to make quilt scraps.”
Monday is a physician liaison at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and is secretary on The Maumelle Players Board of Directors.
“This is a different play for us,” said Monday, who has acted in all of the group’s plays, except the first two, since it started in 2005. “It’s by a lesser-known author, but Victor has visited with the author, and that has really helped.”
Crew members include Janell Rieske, prompter; Kathy Kafka, light and sound; Mike Crosson, Tim Loken and Bill Reiske, set construction; Lewis Bowen, props manager; Pam Werner, house manager; and Roger Frangieh, programs and photography.
Tickets to Gladys in Wonderland are $12 for adults and $10 for students and for seniors, 65 and older. Tickets are available from any cast member or online at www.maumelleplayers.org.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 211 on 10/30/2011