Bald Eagle Area High School Drama Club did it again. Starting with their choice of play to the energy of the cast and crews they provided a fun evening. The play, LEAVING IOWA, was unfamiliar to me, but I have learned to trust directors Eric Brinser and Lindsey Allison.
The plot revolves around Don Browning, played by Matthew Blaylock, taking his father’s ashes back to the old family homestead. In flashbacks, we meet the younger Don, Cody Mandell, his rather bratty younger sister, Abbey Crago, his mom, Kourtney Vermillion, and Dad himself, David Gawryla, on a car trip. These four actors captured the squabbling, the boredom, and the less than educational aspects of an extended family outing almost too well.
Kourtney’s patience with her family was well done, making her “ blow up” something mothers everywhere could relate to. I also loved David as the father who was determined to make this trip fun AND education! Cody and Abbey as the squabbling siblings were so believable that if we were not familiar with their work from earlier plays, we could accuse Mr Brinser of exceptional type casting. These seniors will be missed next year.
Holding the show together was Matthew Blaylock as the adult Don Browning. Charged with taking his father’s ashes to their final resting place, Matthew acts as the narrator for the play. Fortunately, we should see Matthew for the next few years.
These leads deserve more credit for their hard work and talent, but I have to save space for what made this show a stand out. If a high school drama coach is worthy of the title, his or her problem becomes what to do about a large group of students who all deserve to be featured in the few plays that get produced. This is one of the joys of Leaving Iowa. There were so many bit parts that were glowing...and I do not use that term lightly.
Meghan Shields was a believable drunk lady. Too often young actors over-do dunk scenes. She was confused, a little flirtatious, but never over the top. Maya Eppley as the very talkative waitress at Gabby’s restaurant was delightfully “over the top”. Rattling off lines with that type of speed is a difficult thing for experienced actors to do. Maya never missed a beat. I also liked the bored museum assistant played by Margaret Cowen. How often have we run into her type at what should be an otherwise interesting historical site? Luke Besong was fortunate to have had some very good, cynical lines and delivered them so that the audience “got them’. Many young actors have a tendency to throw one- liners away.
The list could go on, as I said it was an exceptionally large cast, as well as an exceptional cast. This was a group of Thespians who proved that there are no small parts. Good work, guys!
Future events at Bald Eagle include the Middle School production of James and the Giant Peach January 31st and February the1st. The big spring musical will be Shrek running April 24-26. I will want to be there if only to check out the costuming.
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