Last weekend, the garden vegetable comedy “Bad Year For Tomatoes” returned to Theatre 29 to kick off the theater’s “Best Of” series. With more details about the production, here’s Heather Clisby…
Written in 1975 by John Patrick, “Bad Year For Tomatoes” focuses on famous actress, Myra Marlowe, who has tired of her demanding Hollywood life and escapes to the tiny New England town of Beaver Haven to write her autobiography. Played with delightful energy by Janet Peercy, Myra reclaims her original name – Myrtle Marigold Durdle – to hide out. Myra’s longtime agent, Tom Lamont, played with an easy charm by Kevin Myers, is the keeper of her secret. He’s loyal, he’s patient, he’s smitten, and he’s confused about the whole charade. Myra – now known as Myrtle – gets little writing done as she is constantly interrupted by her nosy neighbors. Brandy Hazel plays Reba Harper and Char Childs is consistently delightful as the Scotch-swilling Cora Gump. Hope Spicer plays the town’s colorful witch, Willa Mae Wilcox, and Morgan Pennington plays the local sheriff. But it’s Piney, hilariously played by Earl Childs, who steals the show. Dragging an axe around, his grunted one-word lines got the biggest laughs of the night.
Directed by Char Childs, “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” will run weekends through January 27. Friday and Saturday nights are at 7 and Sunday afternoons are at 2:30. Tickets are $10 to $15. For tickets, visit theatre29.org or call 760-361-4151.
