Good things to come

A few posts ago, I made a coy reference to out-of-towners coming back to appear in local productions. I exchanged emails with my pal Judi at Barksdale today and had it confirmed that former Richmonder Susan Sanford will be returning from Los Angeles to appear in “Little Dog Laughed.” So THAT’S cool! Can we find something good for her extremely talented husband (one of my favorite Hamlets ever…) to appear in while she’s in town?

In other great casting news, I’m very excited about the folks who’ll be appearing in “Peter Pan.” After an exceptional Peter (which Ford Flanagan will certainly be), I think the most important thing in “Pan” is a great Hook. And Theatre IV’s production will feature Robert Throckmorton in the role – someone who has delivered dozens of truly memorable performances during his long local tenure. Theatre IV is preparing some great scenery that I’m sure he will be chewing all to pieces once the show opens! His right hand man, Smee, will be played by Richard Koch who had a small feast of his own in the recently closed “Rumplestiltskin’s Daughter.”

The production will also feature a relative newcomer, Christine Schneider, as Wendy and, though I’ve only spoken to her briefly, she seems adorable. And of course, there’ll be that cute little Timberline punk hanging out on stage again. I believe he’ll have fewer lines involving “wee wee” this time.

I’ll also be looking forward to hearing who’s going to be in the Mill’s “Once Upon a Mattress.” The only play I’ve actually appeared onstage for in my entire life was my high school production of “Mattress.” I had one line (something like “get a rope!” – I can’t really remember) and the director wisely placed me next to the best and loudest singer in the cast so you couldn’t hear any of my “singing.” If I happen to review the show and make a special mention of “second knight from the left,” now you’ll know why…