(This article first appeared in the print edition published Feb. 28)
This weekend, a reworking of Atlanta’s longest-running theatrical production is coming to the Preston Arts Center and will be performed by a local cast.
It’s called “Kentucky Battle” (the original was titled “Peachtree Battle”) and it takes no prisoners as it delivers biting humor and satire to skewer politicians, social norms, prejudices and stereotypes.
Written by playwright John Gibson, the plot of “Kentucky Battle” centers around the prominent, though dysfunctional, Bellefonte family.
Pillars of Louisville society Trudy and Churchill Bellefonte have three young adult children, and one of them is bringing his Hooter’s waitress fiancé home to meet the family.
That sets up all sorts of opportunity for biting insults, unfair assumptions and explorations of racism and homophobia. It will be performed at Preston Arts Center at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The characters are Trudy Bellefonte (Stacey Howell), Churchill Bellefonte (Kenny Bristol), Azalea Bowling Green (Bonnie Bartley), Lexington Bellefonte (Savannah Duckworth), Henderson Bellefonte (Jackson Gaines), Cumberland Falls Bellefonte (Tyler May), Tiffani (Mi’Oshi Holloway) and Marta the housekeeper (Vivian Backes).
“Editing the script for ‘Kentucky Battle’ was a lot of fun,” said playwright Gibson, who has adapted the script over the years for other locations, including New York City, Los Angeles and Boston.
“Kentucky’s rich and colorful history combined with some of the most powerful current and future leaders in our country (U.S. senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, Gov. Andy Beshear and Daniel Cameron), makes for good writing,” he continued.
He said that regardless of the location, the themes are universal.
“The one thing I learned with the original play was, that even though it was about an Atlanta family, people from all over the country could relate,” Gibson said. “People would come and see the show and say, ‘That’s my family!’”
“I was never sure if that was a good or a bad thing,” he quipped.
Gibson now lives in South Carolina but was a high school classmate of Howell’s, who is the director of Preston Arts Center. At Washington High School in Washington, Ind., (north of Evansville in Daviess County) they were in theatrical and choral productions together.
Over the years, Howell had seen her classmate’s work performed when she was traveling through or to Atlanta and always thought it would be nice to present his work locally. Eventually the opportunity came to make the pitch again.
“It’s a dream come true,” she said of the quick-witted and fast-paced show.
Because Gibson lives out of state and some of the cast members also had logistical issues that might impact a traditional rehearsal schedule, early preparations took a different path.
“Zoom is one of those new mediums to reach people (and) using it has been very effective and a blessing,” Gibson said. “With so many demands on families and our personal lives, this has allowed much more flexibility and has actually saved time. We were able to proceed at a much faster pace.”
He said it erased wasted time and allowed for more of the one-on-one time with an actor “that’s necessary for exploring and questioning the character’s intentions.”
Gibson said that, without the Zoom rehearsal model, some extremely talented actors may have had to pass on the project and he probably wouldn’t have been able to direct.
“Two of our actors are full time moms, one actor is attending University of Kentucky, another travels for work and I live three states away,” he said. “I will use Zoom in all my future productions.”
Gibson did travel to Henderson in February for a few days of workshops and in-person rehearsals and will come one more time before the week of the show.
The director said his only goal for “Kentucky Battle” is that the audience members find something to laugh about.
“That’s it,” he said. “I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind about anything. If you were a jerk when you came (to the show), you’re going to be a jerk when you leave. But you’ll be a jerk that laughed a lot.”
Gibson was very complimentary of the Preston Arts Center as a facility and of Howell’s mission to attract new programming to it.
“She shared with me her vision of bringing new and exciting projects that would reach out to people who had never been a part of PAC and strengthen the support of those who have enjoyed PAC since its inception,” he said. “She and I both believe that ‘Kentucky Battle’ embodies both these goals.”
If you go: “Kentucky Battle,” Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., Preston Arts Center, 2660 S. Green St. on campus of Henderson Community College, 270-831-9800.
Tickets: http://prestonplayers.ludus.com/or at the box office 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
