Posted by: hannaheath on 04/12/2008 09:29 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 04/17/2008 10:12 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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"The White Sheep of the Family" is a Wonderful Production Put on By Black Bart Players! ~By Hanna Heath
Murphys, CA….This comedy play that the Black Bart Players are presenting for the Black Bart Theater, is one of the most delightful and amusing ever written. Living in one of the best parts of Hampstead, the charming and highly respected Winter family, father is both a J.P. and a Churchwarden, follow with consummate artistry and sill, their chosen profession…….
   
Large-scale jewel robbery, pick-pocketing at the Opera, and forging bank notes keep the family united and happy. It is only when the son falls in love with the daughter of the Police Commissioner, and decides to become a bank clerk and go straight, to the horror and chagrin of the rest of the family, that the fun really starts.
Director Diane Brown, a Black Bart Player since 1977, returns to direct her seventh Black Bart production. Brown’s onstage performances include “Bad Day at Gopher’s Breath,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Moose Murders” and “Ravenscroft.” When asked what was the best part about directing this play she replied, “The cast, I enjoyed working with all of them, and they are the ones who have made this play fantastic.” After many meetings and discussions the Community Theater Board voted to have this play produced. “This play has not been acted or directed in the United States since 1982,” shared Diane.
Cast
Alice Winter: Nicki Swendeman: the mother of the family. Swendeman, who is also assistant directing the play, has been a Black Bart Player since 1980, including a 10-year hiatus. She last participated in the winter productions of “11 Variations on Friar John’s Failure” and “The Ballad of King Windowglass,” running the light loft. Swendeman is slated to direct this summer’s melodrama, “Males Order Brides.” She lives in Angels Camp with her husband, Rick, and son Christopher.
Janet, the maid: Melissa Hall: she has participated in playes during her childhood and has done some high school playes. She loves acting and being around people. Melissa lives in Vallecito.
James Winter, JP: Sean Lewis: the patriarch of the Winter family. Lewis last appeared in the 2006 production of “Love, Sex and the IRS.” Raised in the Bay Area, Lewis is living in Calaveras County because his sister and her husband, who live in Columbia, are expecting their first child. Lewis is excited about coming to perform at the theater again, as well as working with Brown once more.
Pat Winter, his daughter: Krissi Krob: the brash daughter with a special skill that can, at times, cause problems for her. Krob has been acting since high school, and found her home with the Black Bart Players in summer 2007. She appeared as Annabelle in “Stop the Presses!” and as several characters, including Juliet, in the winter production of “11 Variations on Friar John’s Failure.” When she’s not on stage or serving as the theater’s publicity chairman, Krob is the copy editor for the Calaveras Enterprise. She lives in San Andreas, but should probably move to Murphys because she spends so much time at the theater.
Assistant Commissioner John Preston: George Curtis: makes his first Black Bart appearance as John Preston, the assistant commissioner of Scotland Yard and Angela’s father. This is Curtis’ first acting experience. He is an Angels Camp resident and is the author of “Tennessee Tears,” an account of the Tennessee Children Home Society’s baby-selling scandal.
The Vicar: Bob Shepherd: the theater’s company manager, portrays the often-befuddled Vicar. Shepherd has been with the Players since 2001 and has appeared in half a dozen plays. His last appearance was as Robin Hood in “11 Variations on Friar John’s Failure.”
Sam Jackson: Missa Swick: James Winter’s business associate. Swick has been involved with the Black Bart Players for 10 years now, serving as this year’s secretary on the theater’s board of directors. This is to be her first attempt at a character with an accent, but she’s up to the challenge and is happy to be back on stage.
Peter Winter, James’s son: Thom Heath: the talented, idealistic son willing to give up everything he knows for love. Serving his second year as the theater’s vice president, Heath has been with the Players off and on since he was a teenager. He will make his directorial debut in the fall’s murder drama, “Ladies in Retirement.”
Angela Preston, Peter’s fiancée: Kendra Burlison: Burlison has been involved with the Black Bart Players on and off for the last 16 years. She first appeared on the Black Bart stage at 9 years old in the melodrama “Two Chickens in Every Pot” From that moment on, she was bitten by the theater bug and has appeared in many Black Bart Players productions over the years. Recently, her acting credits include Sara Sweetflower in “A Golden Fleecing,” Connie in 2006’s “Love, Sex and the IRS” and the Mute in 2007’s “The Fantasticks.” Burlison has added directing to her repertoire and last directed 2007’s “Stop the Presses!” She currently serves on the theater’s 2008 board of directors as president and is very excited about this year’s season. She lives in Douglas Flat with her husband, Matt, daughter, Ilyra, and is expecting another addition to the family in September.
“The White Sheep of the Family” will play Fridays and Saturdays, April 4 through 26, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors. For more information, or to make a reservation, call 728-8842 or visit murphysblackbartplayers.com. This is a wonderful play for the whole family.
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