Dan's Papers - March 28, 2008 - The Oldest Living Graduate Plays in Quogue

On March 27 at 8 p.m. the Hampton Theatre Company in Quogue presents the opening night performance of The Oldest Living Graduate. Written in 1976 by Preston Jones, this two-act play was one of the three plays comprising of the author's Texas Trilogy, which originated at the Dallas Theater Center (the theater credited with starting the regional theater movement in America). It then moved to the Kennedy Center in Washington and on to Broadway in 1976, before being made into a feature film starring Henry Fonda in the title role.

The play centers on a fierce and amorous old Southern Colonel who is coming to terms with his life as both the patriarch of his Texas family and as a young solider in World War I - his glory years. To fill these boots, the co-founder of Hampton Theatre Company, James Ewing will play the curmudgeonly Colonel. Ewing has played many memorable roles with the company ,including Tobias in A Delicate Balance, Owen Musser in The Foreigner and Artie Shaughnessy in The House of Blue Leaves.

In the role of his embittered son Floyd, who is trying hard to prove himself and win his father's long withheld respect, is Todd Reichart, a new face around the theatre. Maureen, Floyd's big-mouthed, sarcastic wife is played by Jessica Ellwood, who appeared to much acclaim as Jenny in Everything in the Garden. Matthew O' Connor makes his debut at the theatre as Floyd's business partner Clarence Sickenger, and Jessica Howard plays Clarence's wife, Martha Ann.

In addition all these interesting people, director and producer, Sarah Hunnewell, who is also the executive director of Hampton Theatre Company, explained, "The Oldest Graduate is a wonderfully written piece - a little known gem - that is at once extremely funny and very poignant. It is guaranteed to make the audience laugh and probably shed a tear or two as well."

Hunnewell, who has been with the Hampton Theatre Company since 1990 (when she was invited out from the city to act in a production of A. R. Gurney's The Dining Room), is looking forward to the opening night, saying the cast is really "reading to role. I am looking forward to bringing this piece to an audience. It will be great."

As the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq passed last Wednesday, it's clear that the play is very timely. According to Hunnewell, as the story develops, the audience sees the conflict between past and future as well as the damage war can do on the home front. Classic characters such as the bored, sassy wife, the ruthless real estate developer, the comedically vacuous trophy wife and a kind and trusted ranch hand help to keep things interesting. Without a doubt, Jones' work allows us to see love playing out through conflict.

The set of is by James Ewing and Mary-Alyce Vienneau, with lighting by Sebastian Paczynski and costumes by Teresa Lebrun.

The Oldest Living Graduate will be performed from March 27 through April 13 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays) and $10 for students under 21. Group discounts are available on request.

For further information or to reserve seats, please call the Hampton Theatre Company at 631-653-8955, e-mail hamptontheatre@optonline.net or visit hamptontheatre.org.