Guild set to unveil ‘A Red Plaid Shirt’ next week

Published 6:29 pm Tuesday, April 23, 2019

: Mike calnan • submitted photo REHEARSAL: Cast members for the upcoming production of “A Red Plaid Shirt” rehearse Monday at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre. The comedy opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2 and will run through the weekend at the theatre.

Retirement has finally arrived.

However, for Marty and Fred, figuring out how to spend their golden years is getting a bit convoluted.

Fortunately, the two friends have wives that aid their direction and all ends well in Michael G. Wilmot’s “A Red Plaid Shirt,” which will be presented by the Vicksburg Theatre Guild.

“This is a really cute, very funny comedy,” director Teresa Shirley said.

The play revolves around the two retired couples who will be played by Paul Ballard, Linda Hadala, Paul Bennett and Andrea Fairchild.

The show has a small cast, Shirley said, and without giving away too many details of the play, she said, the men eventually find themselves in a woodworking class at the high school from which Marty has retired.

Shirley said the comedy was to originally be performed last year, but because they only had a four-week window to prepare, they decided to wait, since one of the characters was is in almost every scene.

This would have been a lot of lines to learn in a short amount of time, she said, “And if we were going to do it we wanted to do a good job.”

While Shirley has been involved with the VTG in many areas that have included working with costuming, lights, props, sets and even acting, this will be her first time to direct a play.

She said Ballard had found the comedy and had mentioned it at a board meeting and suggested a novice take on the role of director.

“I thought about it and then said, ‘Why not.’ It’s a play with a small cast.”

Shirley said as a first-time director it has been helpful working with a seasoned cast.

“If I have any questions, I can get feedback from them and we have been able to feed off each,” she said.

Shirley added the cast has also been very patient and has answered a lot of questions for her.

“You just don’t realize what all goes into a play until you are in charge of it,” she said.

“A Red Plaid Shirt” will run at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre, 101 Iowa Ave.

Shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. A 2 p.m. matinee performance will be offered on Sunday, May 5.

Tickets are $15, $10 for ages 65 and older and $8 for ages 12 and younger and are available at the theater’s box office. Advance tickets are available online at showclix.com/events/10243.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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