(MAPLEWOOD,NJ) -- The Strollers of Maplewood presents the heart-warming drama The Trip To Bountiful by Horton Foote. This is the bittersweet story of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman who longs to escape the cramped Houston apartment where she lives with her protective son and bossy daughter-in-law. Performances take place May 13-15 and May 20-21 at the Burgdorff Performing Arts Center.
Carrie wants to return to her beloved hometown of Bountiful, Texas, one final time before she dies. She finally manages to make her escape, aided by luck and the kindness of strangers. As she nears her destination, however, the veil of time and longing start to lift, revealing her beloved town isn't exactly what she remembers.
"The Trip to Bountiful is about the myth of an idea called home. Mr. Foote creates characters, nearly all of whom come from the same stretch of provincial Texas, who long to believe in the reality of real estate, that a house is a fortress and an anchor in a world of threatening flux. But this bleakly sentimental playwright is as merciless as he is compassionate. Home is only an illusion for his people, and everyone is ultimately an orphan, even when surrounded by family." ---NY Times
The production is directed by Wanda Maragni, produced by Carol Cornicelli, and stage managed by Art Delo. The cast includes Janet Aspinwall, Rick Brown, Ruth Kliwinski, Fran Shultz, Emily Bonaria, Juan Castro, Ron Richardson, Amanda Feliciano, and Carline Titos Thermitos.
Tickets are available for purchase online. Adult tickets are $20; seniors/student tickets are $15. Performances are Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14 at 8:00pm; Sunday, May 15 at 2:00pm; Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21 at 8:00pm. Burgdorff Performing Arts Center is located at 10 Durand Avenue in Maplewood, New Jersey.
The Strollers is a community theater troupe in Maplewood, New Jersey. They have been in continuous operation since 1932. Each year they produce a season of two plays and a musical, as well as a children's theater production in midwinter. They welcome anyone with an interest in the arts and a willingness to work toward a common goal, whether onstage or behind the scenes. Their diverse membership includes people of all ages and from all walks of life. Whether you have always been a theater person or just enjoy the fun of working on a creative project, The Strollers welcomes you. Their monthly meetings include a workshop program, providing first-time playwrights and directors a forum for showcasing and experimenting with new works and ideas. Workshops also offer actors opportunities to perform in somewhat more casual and less time-consuming venues than a full play may demand.
