Smith on ‘Always a Bridesmaid’: ‘Definitely … my favorite’

Comedy opens Jan. 22

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

ROCKINGHAM — Theressa Smith didn’t have much time for the results to sink in.

She and five other women auditioned for “Always a Bridesmaid,” a comedy that will be played out on the Richmond Community Theatre stage in seven performances beginning Jan. 22. Auditions were held Dec. 1 and Dec. 2; the results were announced Dec. 3 and rehearsals began on Dec. 4.

Caleb Neeley | WRSH 91.1 FM Theressa Smith speaks on the upcoming play "Always a Bridesmaid" Friday inside the WRSH 91.1 FM studio at Richmond Senior High School. The play opens Jan. 22 at Richmond Community Theatre in downtown Rockingham.

Caleb Neeley | WRSH 91.1 FM
Theressa Smith speaks on the upcoming play “Always a Bridesmaid” Friday inside the WRSH 91.1 FM studio at Richmond Senior High School. The play opens Jan. 22 at Richmond Community Theatre in downtown Rockingham.

Always a Bridesmaid” is a 2013 comedy written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. The six-woman cast that resolves around “four friends (who) have sworn to keep the promise they made on the night of their Senior Prom: to be in each other’s weddings … no matter what.”

Smith spoke on the play, the camaraderie, the comedy and the challenges of being in front of a live audience Friday morning on The Pee Dee Post‘s weekly radio show on WRSH 91.1 FM at Richmond Senior High School. Students Caleb Neeley and Scotlin Maples served as station engineers for the program, which will return on Jan. 9 after the winter break. The show is the second of three this season for the theater.

Smith plays Libby Ruth, who is “just a romantic,” she said, with a perspective that “everything has a happy ending. Every time things are falling apart, she’s looking for the bright side.”

Smith might have it easier — or, at least, easier. Angie Rush plays Monette, a character Smith said is one “that I think I would not fit into.”

Monette is described as “flashy, high-spirited and self-involved,” someone who “continues to test her friends’ love and patience with all-too-frequent trips down the aisle.”

“Angie’s doing a great job with that part,” Smith said. “(That role has) got some interesting things that she’s going to have to prepare for there.”

Merrie Dawkins plays Sedalia, Anitra Ingram is cast in the role of Deedra, Darla McGuire is Kari and Missy Reynolds is Carrie.

Smith said the play, written in 2013 by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, will make the audience howl with laughter. It’s already happening to the women who star in it.

“I guarantee you it’s going to happen,” Smith said of laughing while on stage. “We have not made it through (rehearsals) without laughing at ourselves yet. It is a hilarious play. Every practice that we’ve had, we can just see it coming out more.”

This is Smith’s fifth play with Richmond Community Theatre. She debuted with “Laundry and Bourbon,” and she also had a role in “Dial ‘M’ for Murder.” But ‘Bridesmaid’ might move to the top spot in her personal portfolio.

“This is by far the funniest one that I’ve got the opportunity to be a part of,” Smith said. “It’s a very funny play. I’ve already decided … this will definitely take the place of my favorite.”

Smith said there’s one great way to support the theater, a nonprofit organization governed by a paid director and a board of directors, all of whom are volunteers.

“Coming out and seeing the play is a big part,” Smith said. “We spend a lot of time practicing, rehearsing, putting a lot of ourselves into this and it’s always awesome to have a full audience out there to appreciate it, laughing with us.”

Editor’s note: In the interest of full disclosure, readers should know staff writer Kevin Spradlin is a member of the Richmond Community Theatre’s board of directors.

 

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