by Pulitzer Prize-winning southern author Beth Henley...

May 6th thru May 24th, 2009

(L to R) Kay Allmand, Jen Lucy, and Maggie Flecknoe

It might be 30 years old, but Beth Henley's Miss Firecracker Contest holds up surprisingly well, especially when the production is as lively and tender as the one running at Texas Repertory Theatre. The Southern tale features all sorts of eccentrics, including a girl who stitches clothes for bullfrogs and an ex-beauty queen on the lam from her marriage. There's family trouble, a love story and, of course, a Miss Firecracker Contest, but Henley's sweet tale is most of all about learning self-acceptance, which is what Carnelle Scott (Kay Allmand) has struggled with her entire life. To prove herself worthy, the 24-year-old dyes her hair flaming red and signs up for the beauty contest. She longs to show all those town folk who used to call her Miss Hot Tamale on account of all her boyfriends that she's changed. She's a good girl now and worth some love and admiration. Of course, she learns her lesson, but not in the way she thinks she will. Directed with lots of heart by Steven Fenley, the actors fit into their roles with charming ease (though it's strange that so many characters spend so much time facing the audience with their eyes cast toward the heavens). Jen Lucy is a joy as Popeye Jackson, the sweet, odd seamstress who teaches Carnelle what real friendship is. Joshua Estrada is wonderfully strange as Delmont Williams, the young man with the "wild hair" who just got out of the "institution." And as Carnelle, Allmand is brimming over with nervous desire to be loved. Out off of FM 1960, Texas Rep is a long way from the center of town, but with a show this charming, it's worth the trip.

(l to r) Joshua Estrada, Jeff lane, Kay Allmand, Maggie Flecknoe, and Jen Lucy