Cat / Hot Tin Roof Extra

Cat On a Hot Tin Roof Extra

By: Donna Maddamma

May 9, 2008

A once in a lifetime opportunity is what many actors will say about a particular role. Usually they are true to that statement. They have the chance to bring to the stage a most memorable character in an exciting role. For one particular local actor, “once in a lifetime,” proved to actually be twice in a lifetime. Jennifer Hamilton will play the part of Maggie the cat in the upcoming production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams at The Runway Theater this Month. A role she had first played at the young age of 18 when she was a freshman at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. It was there that the Universities professor took a chance on casting an inexperienced Jennifer for a role that would affect her acting career forever.

“I was really green, really green,” said Jennifer about her first chance as Maggie the Cat. “Obviously at age 18 you don’t have near the life experiences to play this role. I had no idea what this play was about,” she added. When Jennifer saw the Runway Theater holding auditions for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof this year, she knew she had to audition for Maggie again. “It’s so amazing to come back and do this again after eighteen years, because I know every bit of what I have to offer this role that I didn’t have back then. Not only acting experience, but life experience.”

Jennifer holds a deep appreciation and respect for the play-write Tennessee Williams who received a Pulitzer Prize for Cat On A Hot Tin Roof in 1955. The character of Maggie is typically seen as a very hard woman. “Some of the strongest people you know have their weaknesses and their vulnerabilities and they try so hard not to let anybody see them,” said Jennifer. “That’s one of the best things about Maggie. Her commitment, her determination amidst her fears, amidst her vulnerabilities it’s very empowering.

Like Jennifer, her co-star, Daylon Walton who plays Brick, is playing on the Runway Theater stage for the first time. “No one ever does Tennessee Williams,” commented Daylon. “It’s never produced [locally]. The chance to do this play….I auditioned, and there was a lot of other guys there who could have had it but I did my research and really wanted it so here we are.” Cat will be Daylon’s first dramatic role under the direction of Sharon Veselic who he has worked with before at Denton Community Theater in Sound of Music.

Daylon is joined on the Runway stage by board member Russell Sebastian as Reverend Tooker. In the wings, the board liaison Jeff Mizener has been working diligently to ensure both director and cast have an easy canvas in which to create this play. “It’s great to have the board so involved. It’s been nothing but open arms since we started,” stated Daylon about Runway Theater. “It’s the perfect venue for this play. It’s an intimate setting and I can’t wait to do it.”

A full cast of high caliber actors brings this play to life for the audience. Included in the cast are young actors Kendall Renae Tubbs (6 years old) and Natalie Marie Aiken (11 years old) who play Trixie and Dixie, two of the children in the script. Constantly referred to as “no neck monsters” by Maggie in the play, Kendall had this response. “I do not like it!” About her experience with this play and at the Runway Kendall added, “I’d just like to say this is really, really fun, and I like being obnoxious!”

Acting in such an important and well-known play could be overwhelming for some actors. Natalie summed up her experience with, ” I get to throw a biscuit at someone and shoot people with a cap gun, how better can it get!”

Director Sharon Veselic has created the perfect set for this timeless classic. A soothing periwinkle backdrop compliments the easy wicker furniture and welcoming white iron bed. This set, although, cool and calming allows the actors to bring the drama of this climatic Tennessee Williams masterpiece to perfection. Throughout the play the smooth acappella voice of Crystal Hires (Sookey) can be heard humming and singing. Her almost lullaby sound keeps the emotion of the dialog at your close attention.

“You don’t see a group come together like this,” Sharon said about her cast. “I’m seeing people work extremely hard. When you have a script this good, [Tennessee Williams] everybody is just aware of the work they’re putting on stage.”

“Mae, I love that character,” she added. Sharon describes her as conniving and puppeteer like. “You are drawn to her a lot. I think at first people don’t like her then you realize she’s fighting for her family. Mae’s character will be strong forever. That woman is through the ages!”

Sharon’s career includes work at Arena Stage Theater in Washington DC, and extensive work in the film industry in New York City. “When I retired and came back here I said you know I’m going to go do what I use to love [directing community theater],” she said. “I love directing. So if it’s a drama, comedy or a musical, it’s the script it’s the story.”

Concerning Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Sharon wants the audience to see a great performance of Tennessee Williams’s play. “I want the audience to see the whole production value of it [the music, the set, the dialogue]. I think people are going to see Tennessee Williams again because this is not something that’s done.”

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof opens at The Runway Theater in Grapevine, Texas on May 23rd. It will run weekend performances until June 8th. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the theater at 817-488-4842 to purchase a general admission of $15.00 each or student/senior ticket for $12.00 each. Performances are each weekend, Friday and Saturday beginning at 8:00 PM doors open at 7:00 and Sunday beginning at 3:00 PM doors open at 2:00.

Make a point to come enjoy this Tennessee Williams Pulitzer Prize winning play. Whether it’s the first time you’re seeing it or seeing it again, you will be treated to an amazing performance. The ‘smell of mendacity’ may be on the stage but it certainly is not in the performance of the actors or director.

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