Cemetery Club

Kick off your New Year with an evening of delightful theater as Tehachapi Community Theater presents the production of Ivan Menchell's "Cemetery Club." The play opens at the Beekay Theater, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and will run four days only, through Jan. 18, with the Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. The Beekay Theater is located at 110 S. Green St. in downtown Tehachapi.

This emotional drama touches on many subjects and themes, some humorous and some heartrending; it is suggested for an adult audience. This is a "Black Box" production, which means the set is minimalist so that the audience will experience the characters without too much distraction. The story line involves three New York Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands' graves. Ida, sweet, affable and ready to begin a new life, is performed wonderfully by Jackie Walters.

Leslie Reynolds-Nuckols becomes Lucille, a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun. Daniella Hernandez's version of Doris is prim, complacent and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher, executed in an understated manner by Dave Shacklock, enters the scene. Finally Silent Wolf intrudes in a pleasurable cameo as Mildred. This production is directed by long-time Tehachapi Community Theater veteran Brian Terpstra. Brian is celebrating his twentieth year as an active member of TCT and is thrilled to bring this play back to Tehachapi. "I am honored and delighted that my fellow players allowed me the opportunity to once again direct this story," he said.

Terpstra has directed and acted in many TCT productions over the years, and noted he is thrilled with this cast. All five actors are stage veterans of the local scene, as well as other theaters and troupes, and promise to deliver strong performances to the BeeKay stage. You can enjoy something pleasant but reach a point where you've had enough. Isn't it wonderful to be so content? You can stay hungry and enthusiastic. Isn't it wonderful to keep wanting more? This play will leave you satisfied and wanting to see future productions from the Tehachapi Community Theater.