‘Always a Bridesmaid’ focuses on love, laughter
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
Previous coverage
* Jan. 8 — Play to be ‘a hoot’
* Dec. 19 — Smith: ‘Definitely … my favorite’
* Aug. 13 — RCT releases 2014-15 schedule
ROCKINGHAM — “Always a Bridesmaid” opened to an active and engaged audience Thursday night inside Richmond Community Theatre in downtown Rockingham.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Deedra (left, played by Anitra Ingram) struggles to decide who to marry on the eve of her wedding while getting advice from friends Charlie (Clarissa Reynolds) and Libby Ruth (Theressa Smith).
The 146-seat theater was roughly 45 percent full for opening night, a far better showing than the last of seven performances of “Love Letters.” Each member of the six-person cast came from behind the stage into a decorated lobby for the opening night reception coordinated by Collette Tate and Pat Black.
“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.”
The play covers a period of seven years and multiple weddings. Merrie Dawkins plays Sedalia, Anitra Ingram is Deedra, Darla McGuire is Kari, Clarissa Reynolds is Charlie, Angie Hough Rush is Monette and Theressa Smith is Libby Ruth.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Theresa Smith, as Libby Ruth, is dedicated to Pierre.
The play is directed by Shelly Walker, theater director. Production crew members included Walker, Jason Buckner, Abram Buckner, Faith Baxley, Emily Braddock, Shantel Quick, Kristin Reynolds, Mindy Schwartz and Joey Bennett. Braddock doubled as an understudy for the play.
The play resumes at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 2 p.m. Sunday and then again at 8 p.m. from Jan. 29 through Jan. 31 for the last of seven scheduled performances.
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 910-997-3765.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Collette Tate, left, and Pat Black coordinated the opening night reception for actresses and patrons.
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