Upon deciding to leave Phoenix, my home for nearly a decade, and move to Kernersville earlier this year, I figured there would be many benefits associated with adopting a small-town lifestyle. Almost immediately, the hospitality, friendly smiles, and one-of-a-kind local shops proved my suspicions correct.
At the same time, I prepared for a few drawbacks — most notably, I assumed I’d have to travel a considerable distance to enjoy a night at the theater. To my great pleasure, I discovered this week that I was wrong!
On Thursday evening, I joined a rather sizable crowd at James Fitzpatrick Auditorium for the final dress rehearsal of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” the second show of the season for Kernersville Little Theatre. This was both my first time seeing the play and my introduction to a KLT production.
When I heard that the performance would be at Kernersville Elementary School, I’ll admit my expectations were somewhat low. As I pulled into the parking lot, however, I was impressed by the size and appearance of the venue — not to mention the professionalism and courtesy of those who worked so hard to put it all together.
I found a seat and began taking in the stage design, which was filled with realistic details missing from many much larger productions. After a brief introduction, the lights dimmed and the performance began.
I’m partial to comedies, and this one provided plenty of laughs. The dialogue, delivered convincingly by all the local actors, often took a backseat to the physical humor on display elsewhere on the stage. It all combined for a thoroughly enjoyable experience that I’m looking forward to sharing with my wife during the show’s two-week run.
Without spoiling the plot, I’ll mention that I resonated with protagonist Mortimer Brewster, who spent a portion of the first act lamenting that he had to attend a theatrical performance for his job at a New York newspaper.
But as he fretted about the logistics of reviewing yet another big-city play, I was altogether pleased with my opportunity to get a satisfying taste of Broadway just a few short miles from my home.
Shows begin on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Get your tickets here or at the door.
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