The Vagabond Players newest play, “You Can’t Get There from Here,” opens this weekend at the Scottish Rite Little Theatre.
The play is a comedy that evolves around a small town’s pothole. Guests to the town drive into the pothole, ruining their cars. Those damaged cars are taken to the town’s only garage and the drivers are forced to stay at Mavis Gardner Bed and Breakfast, the only such establishment in town.
When a visiting tabloid journalist ends up in the pothole, his editors tell him to write an expose on the situation.
“Arthur is the journalist who unwittingly falls through the pothole,” Vagabond newcomer Sam Greulich said about his character.
During his stay, Arthur falls for the niece of the sisters who run the B&B.
“Arthur goes from being an uptight big-city person to becoming someone who embraces” small-town life, Greulich said.
When Arthur decides there is no story in town, one of his editors, Dolores (played by Susan Dolan), travels to the small Southern town to find out what’s really going on.
“She is so tiny and unassuming and she takes over the play,” said Bonnie Hagerty, whose character Queenie, is the owner of the town’s local newspaper.
Dolan revels in the role of Dolores, who she categorizes as evil, ambitious and mean.
Jonathan Perkins, a frequent director of shows at the Liberty Theatre, is directing the show.
“This play is so well-crafted,” Perkins said. “Theater-goers can relate to the people... It’s so good to just laugh.”
Other cast members: The B&B is run by two sisters played by Sandra Coffey (Liz) and Jean Morris (Myrtle). Their niece (Ann) is played by Columbus State University theater major Sonnet Moore. Lou Smith plays Horace, the curmudgeon who is the top editor of Dolan and Greulich’s tabloid.
CAST LIST
Liz: Sandra Coffey loves performing in community theater. She is a veteran performer at the Family Theatre and other local venues. She’s been in “Harvey,” “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Steel Magnolias.” She writes and performs New Testament women’s monologues, with seven that have been published. She is a C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien aficianado, and has been through the training program of Actors, Models, Talent for Christ and is looking for that elusive “big break” into professional acting.
Dolores: Susan Dolan returns to the Scottish Rite Little Theatre in this new Vagabond Players romp as a wonderfully evil, sadistic editor of a sleazy magazine. Susan’s other evil roles have included Ouiser in “Steel Magnolias” and Miss Minchin in “The Little Princess.” She has been seen on stages at T.H.E. and Family theaters in “Shadowlands,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Angel Street.” As a Vagabond Player, she has performed at St. George’s Anglican Church in two Lou Smith original plays, “But Was it Murder” and “Showdown at Sun City Retirement Villas.” But she has had the most fun in her latest shows, “The Dixie Swim Club” and “Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner.” Susan is especially glad for the opportunity to be directed by Jonathan Perkins, a very patient and professional director and a true gentleman. When not doing shows, Susan can be found behind her easel working on her oil paintings.
Queenie: After her first role in “Get it Off Me” at T.H.E., Bonnie Hagerty went on to perform in other productions there and at the Springer Opera House. She first appeared with the Vagabonds in Lou Smith’s “But Was it Murder?” with subsequent roles including “Love Letters,” “Steel Magnolias,” “The Hiding Place,” “Little Women,” “Our Town,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Showdown at Sun City,” “You Can’t Take it With You,” “Rahab.” Her favorite role was Jeri Neal in “The Dixie Swim Club.”
Arthur: Sam Greulich is thrilled to be making his debut with the Vagabond Players. Hailing from Erie, Pa., Sam grew up with the arts thanks to his father who has participated in community theater for almost 30 years. Previous roles include Daddy Warbucks in “Annie Jr.” and Gene in “A Separate Peace.” Having been off stage for almost 10 years, Sam is excited at the opportunity to flex his acting chops again. A captain in the U.S. Army, Sam is currently stationed at Fort Benning and works as the Delta company senior trainer at Officer Candidate School. Sam would like to thank his amazing wife and lifetime love, Emily, for her constant support and encouragement.
Ann: Sonnet Moore is a theater performance major at Columbus State University. She is a native of Cumming, Ga. She has been in “Doors,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf” and “A Trick of the Lights.”
Myrtle: Jean Morris is a native of Thomaston, Ga. Jean recently appeared as Dora Miller in the Vagabond Players’ production of “Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner,” as Vernadette in “The Dixie Swim Club” and as Alice in Lou Smith’s “Showdown at Sun City.” Jean holds a bachelor of fine arts degree with honors from Wesleyan College in Macon, where she also taught acting and directing for four years. Jean has worked in summer stock, regional and professional theater and has appeared in more than 250 plays. She was the founder and president of the Highlands Cashiers Players in Highlands, N.C., from 1995 until her move to Phenix City four years ago with her husband Ralph and their two Shih Tsus. Her favorite roles include Mama in “I Remember Mama,” Queen Eleanor in “The Lion in Winter,” Truvy in “Steel Magnolias,” Penny in “You Can’t Take it With You” and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods.” She’s also performed with Carolina Murder Mysteries dinner theaters in Highlands, Licklog Players in Hayesville, N.C., Highlands Playhouse, Theatre Macon and New Stage Theatre in Jackson, Miss. Since moving to this area, Jean has enjoyed playing Mrs. Webb in “Our Town” and Abby Brewster in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” both with Family Theatre.
Horace: Lou Smith is well known in the Columbus theater community. As an actor, he has appeared at Columbus State University Theater, Family Theatre, The Human Experience Theatre and the Springer Opera House. As an author, two of the plays he has written, “But Was it Murder?” and “Showdown at Sun City,” have been performed by the Vagabond Players. He has worked in the production area as stage manager and has directed “You Can’t Take it With You,” “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Harvey,” to name just a few, for Family Theatre. Directing the Vagabonds in “The Dixie Swim Club” remains his favorite and most satisfying undertaking. After all, he was married to most of the women in the cast at one time or another -- on stage.
