JONESBOROUGH REPERTORY THEATRE

Romantic comedy of a by-gone era sure to be a hit

This month's installment at the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is sure to touch memories of a bygone era and cause a few laughs (and sighs) at the same time.

Sabrina Fair, a romantic comedy written by Samuel Taylor, was originally subtitled "A Woman of the World." Sabrina Fair tells the story of Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of the chauffer to the wealthy Larrabee family of the North Shore of Long Island.

Returning from a stay in Paris after working as a private secretary to the "Assistant Economic Commissioner Office of Special Representative for Europe Economic Cooperation Administration," she is a young woman of beauty, charm and joi de vivre. In other words, the complete opposite of the young shy child the family had all but ignored.

Sabrina returns to Long Island to find out whether there is any truth in a childhood crush, even though she has been wooed by a French millionaire. What she finds, instead, is what she is looking for all along - her counterpart.

The cast of characters includes a few well-known JRT players and a few newcomers to the stage. Others are well-known actors at Johnson City's Community Theatre.

The title role is played by Emily Carmichael, who brings just the right amount of spunk to the chauffeur's daughter with a newfound sense of personality and place in the world. Carmichael has been involved in community theatre since 1997, but this was her first time performing at JRT. The director made the perfect choice in casting Carmichael, who plays the energetic and coy Sabrina effortlessly.

Sabrina's counterpart, Linus Larrabee, Jr., is played by Andy Cobble, who has made several appearances at the JRT in the past. Cobble as Larrabee couldn't be better. He plays the intellectual, hard-nosed realist in such a way that you can't hold it against him - he is, after all, just being himself it seems. Cobble's performance shows amazing depth of character - he is Linus Larrabee, Jr.

Along the way a whole cast of characters, members of the staff and family, are there to comment on the journey.

The most enjoyable performance of the play is that of Pat Beard, who plays Julia ("Aunt" Julia), a dottering family friend who is recovering from an operation. Beard delivers her lines with humor and one never knows what Aunt Julia will say - she doesn't mince words.

And, Angus Walton, who plays Linus Larabee, Sr. is equally enjoyable as the patriarch of the family who never seems to know what's going on.

Angie Hyche as Maude Larrabee - the mother of Linus, Jr. and his brother, David - holds the whole thing together, running about from scene to scene mothering over the whole mess. Her scene with Linus, Sr. when she tells him that David Larabee wants to marry Sabrina is wonderful.

Not to be left out, Daniel Wallen plays David Larabee with a zest that is not usually expected from someone majoring in business administration. Perhaps Wallen should consider a change of occupation, as his list of involvement in the theatre includes roles with the Johnson City Community Theatre and Milligan College.

The play is the first try at directing by John Beard, who will now return to his "day job" as a graphic designer. We, however, should hope that after Sabrina he will return to the stage as a director. Beard says that he chose to direct Sabrina Fair because many of the shows he loves are "quaint relics of a bygone era."

What better play then, than Sabrina Fair, and what better stage than Jonesborough?

The crew this week at the JRT transformed a small stage in Jonesborough into the North Shore of Long Island with beauty. The set crew, which included director John Beard, April and Kaeli Gardner, Pat Beard, Rachel Gloess, Kathy Davenport and Kathleen Buttolph, did an amazing job with the background - without which the play would be lacking.

Sabrina Fair is showing this week at the JRT, downtown, August 29 and 30 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m. and next week, Sept. 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, you may call the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 423.753.1010.

Originally published in the Herald & Tribune, August 26, 2008. Copyright Jonesborough Publishing, 2008.

Article courtesy of johnsoncitypress.com