Crimes of the Heart Closes 2009-10 Season with a Bang
The Honorary Producers were among the first to sing the praises of Crimes of the Heart at the First Nights Cast Party on Friday, May 14. Jean Weiss (Honorary Producer with her husband, Tim), a Southerner herself, said, “Beth Henley and Warner Shook lovingly captured the essence of a Southern, dysfunctional family. The only thing missing for me was a phonograph in the kitchen where we learned to jitterbug!”
Maybe they weren't jitter-bugging, but guests were in a celebratory mood during the party. They sipped Lynchberg Lemonade, the theme drink, and nibbled southern style hors d’oeuvres as strolling saxophonist Paul Vavidad (of Mark Wood Entertainment) played Delta Blues.
Among the popular treats from Mark’s Catering were southern fried chicken fritters with maple drizzle, Cajun popcorn shrimp with remoulade, jambalaya croquettes and a gumbo taster. Pecan pie truffles were a hit at the chocolate bar by C. Salt Gourmet, which also included pistachio cherry chocolate with sea salt and caramel.
Party-goers were joined by the playwright, the director (who was extolled for his staging), and the actors, who were so believable Jean Weiss said, “I honestly expected one of my cousins to walk on the stage at any moment during the play.”
As the evening wound down around midnight, First Nighters (transplanted Southerners and “Yankees” among them) all agreed that they’d enjoyed a great production of a play that has already become an American classic and were thrilled to greet the playwright herself at one of the season’s best parties.
