THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST
Lebanon Theatre Company
May 2-11
[Lebanon]
Directed by Abby Kinnebrew Smith
Produced by Brian Trainer
Cast: Grace Conkel as Carnelle Scott, Rachel Terrell as Popeye Jackson, Jessica Armour as Elaine Rutledge, Michael Cline as Delmount Williams, Michael Schumacher as Mac Sam & Waverly Clark as Tessy Mahoney
The place is the small Mississippi town of Brookhaven, the time a few days before the Fourth of July. Carnelle Scott (known locally as “Miss Hot Tamale”) is rehearsing furiously for the Miss Firecracker Contest—hoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. The unexpected arrival of her cousin Elain, a former Miss Firecracker winner, (who has walked out on her rich but boring husband and her two small children) complicates matters a bit, as does the repeated threat of Elain’s eccentric brother, Delmount, (recently released from a mental institution) to sell the family homestead and decamp for New Orleans. But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named Popeye (who is hopelessly smitten by Delmount) and several other cheerfully nutty characters, Carnelle perseveres—leading to a denouement of unparalleled hilarity, compassion and moving lyricism as all concerned finally escape their unhappy pasts and turn hopefully toward what must surely be a better future.
- Fri-Sat, May 2-3 at 7:30pm
- Sun, May 4 at 2pm
- Fri-Sat, May 9-10 at 7:30pm
- Sun, May 11 at 2pm
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 