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Eight sisters playing bridge twice every month are the nucleus of "The Octette Bridge Club" by P.J. Barry, Hendersonville Little Theatre’s third production of the 2008 season. HLT is happy to welcome seven actresses new to their stage in this sentimental comedy about American life in a bygone era. The play opens on a Friday evening in 1934 when we meet the Donovan sisters all grown and all but one married. They are being photographed for the local newspaper while enjoying their usual bridge game. Ten years later in Act II, we meet them again still playing bridge, this time celebrating Halloween, each wearing a costume and performing an act appropriate to her persona. Betsy, the emotionally fragile youngest sister, has just returned home from a stay in a sanitarium. After dancing as Salome for the amusement of her sisters, she announces that in order to regain her emotional strength, she must cut the bonds of her smothering family and be her own person. The New York Daily News calls this picture of an American family “…A delightful, funny, moving glimpse of the sort of lives we are all familiar with – our own.” Linda Brookes, Ouiser in Hendersonville Little Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias last season plays Martha, the oldest of the eight sisters. The rest of the cast are all new to HLT’s stage. Robin Hodgson, is Mary, sister number two. Pat Perkerson, who has forty years of acting experience, plays Nora, sister three. Annette Hobbs, no stranger to HLT having been stage manager and assistant director, but Octette will mark her first time on stage here, is sister four, Connie. Patty Siebert, who plays Alice, has performed in many theaters in Atlanta. Sandra Whitmore is the sixth sister, Ann. Sandra has performed frequently with Connestee Amateur Theater Society in Brevard. Kerry Shannon, who plays Lil, has acted in several ACT productions in Asheville. Rounding out the eight sisters is Kelly Morgan as Betsy, the youngest. Kelly is making her acting debut with Octette. The lone male in the show will be Z. Joseph Guice, who is Mr. Foster. Joe will also serve as assistant stage manager. "The Octette Bridge Club" is directed by John Brooks, who directed last season’s Killjoy. Charlotte Overbaugh is producer; Elizabeth Malzone is stage manager and Bob Reece is assistant director. "The Octette Bridge Club" opens at Hendersonville Little Theatre’s barn on State Street, at Kanuga and Willow, Friday, July 11 and closes Sunday, July 27. Friday and Saturday evening performances start at 8 PM; Sunday afternoon matinees start at 2 PM. Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for those under 18 years of age. All seats are reserved. Telephone reservations open on June 30. Call 692-1082. The box office at the barn will be open Fridays and Saturdays for walk-in purchase or pick-up from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM beginning July 5. Visit www.hendersonvillelittletheatre.org for more information. (Images provided by Hendersonville Little Theatre.)
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