performs last show of

season, ‘The Matchmaker’

By Rob Tanner

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ &045; The Natchez Little Theatre will conclude its 56th season with Thorton Wilder’s production, &uot;The Matchmaker&uot; this week.

According to Layne Taylor, president of the Board of Directors at Natchez Little Theatre, the play will open Thursday night at 8 p.m. There are four acts and one intermission. There will be a champagne gala with hors d’oeuvres following the play Thursday night. Members of the cast, board of directors, audience, season members and corporate sponsors will attend.

&uot;It’s a way to make the first night a special evening,&uot; Taylor said.

Taylor added that the theatre had a special free sneak preview on Tuesday and tonight for only residents of local area nursing homes.

The play will also have showings on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and a matinee on Sunday at 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended for the event and can be made by calling the Natchez Little Theatre box office at 601-442-2233. Prices include $15 for adults and $12 for full-time students and seniors 60 and over.

Season members can attend the event for free, but Taylor recommends that they make a reservation.

The play, set in the 1890s, is about a wealthy merchant and a manipulative matchmaker.

Taylor said that this is one of Wilder’s most hilarious comedies. It was made more famous when it was adapted as the Broadway musical &uot;Hello Dolly!&uot; and later a movie with Barbara Striesand. Taylor added that it was a fast-paced, slapstick comedy.

&uot;It’s absolutely a knee-slapping comedy,&uot; Taylor said.

Lynn Mann and Becky Zerby directed the &uot;The Matchmaker&uot;. The cast includes both newcomer and veteran actors ranging in age from 14 to over 60. Members of the cast include:

4Layne Taylor as Cornelius Hackl

4Laurie Williams as Irene Malloy

4Chase Caldwell as Barnaby Tucker

4Lissa McManus as Minnie Fay

4Jason Clark as Ambrose Kemper

4Megan Roberts as Ermengarde

4Don Vesterse as Malachi Stack

4Cindy Galloway as Flora Van Huysen

4Mark Baroni as Joe Scanlon and August

4Casey Gilbert as Joe the Cabman

4Susan Bonnett as Gertrude

4James Gavette as Rudolf

4Florence Hargis as Cook

4Maura Johnson as Dolly Gallagher Levi

4Rusty Jenkins as Horace Vandergelder.