Apropos Appalachia provides a light-hearted look at the region

Brett Andrews and Heather Rich

With the latest theatre production by Tusculum College's Arts Outreach program, local audience members may see shades of themselves being acted out onstage. That's because "Apropos Appalachia" is set entirely in East Tennessee, with a cast of characters any local resident could recognize from among their own neighbors.

"It's a lighthearted look at the adventures of two Greeneville families, one from Main Street and one from the bypass," says Marilyn duBrisk, co-author of the play and Tusculum College's Artist in Residence.

The action begins as the two families find themselves embroiled in a feud, which is mediated by a third East Tennessee group -- "the mountain people." The romantic leads, played by Tusculum College students Heather Rich and Brett Andrews, come from opposing sides of the battle.

Adding to the local flavor, monologues from The Road Company's popular production Echoes and Postcards are inserted into the plot of Apropos Appalachia. Johnson City playwright and poet Jo Carson "generously allowed us to use some of her work also," said duBrisk.

Though the fast-moving play is a comedy, duBrisk said she and co-author Delina Hensley took care that the characters represent more than just caricatures.

"Although we have lots of comedy, laughter and songs, we are hoping that the wisdom and character of the mountain people will shine brightly. They are really the heroes of the play," duBrisk said. "We're trying not to overplay or stereotype the mountain accent; we really want to show the music of the speech."

Marilyn duBrisk shows Apropos dancers the moves.

Appalachian sayings and dialects were carefully researched by the authors to lend authenticity, while a group of talented musicians were enlisted to provide the play's musical numbers, which include a hoe-down, a ballad, and even an interpretive dance. Musicians include Greene County's Lowell Hensley on mandolin, Glen Rose on banjo, and Tusculum College museum studies student Carrie Trevor on fiddle. Katie Doman of Tusculum College is musical director and guitarist.

Look for "lighthearted, politically-incorrect" lyrics to accompany the music, duBrisk said. Alice Loftin, professor of English at Tusculum, and local historian Richard Doughty assisted duBrisk and Hensley with the songs.

Among other local talent in the play are Jeff and Susan McNabb, both known for their work in the Little Theatre productions of Hello Dolly and Annie Get Your Gun. Sally Harbison, Richard Scheuch, Wess duBrisk and Dell Hughes, Kendra Hinkle and Lucy Close, all of Greeneville/Greene County, are also featured among the cast of 30.

Tusculum College students in the play come from such diverse places as Hungary, California, Oregon, and New Jersey.

Sets for the play are being built by Tusculum's Frank Mengel, newly arrived from Anchorage, Alaska, and cast members. Stuart Hoeke is in charge of lighting.

DuBrisk believes it’s a production that all East Tennesseeans should see because "it's important for us to learn the value of our local heritage and at the same time to laugh at ourselves." She admits, however, that "a couple of controversial subjects are mentioned.

"It's my experience that no matter how tactful you try to be you may inadvertently step on someone's toes, but that's certainly not a goal," she said. "Any resemblence to specific local persons living or dead is purely coincidental," she adds with a smile.

Tickets for Apropos Appalachia, which will be performed 8 p.m., November 6-7 and 2 p.m., November 8, in the Annie Hogan Byrd Auditorium on the Tusculum College campus, are available at the door or by calling (423) 798-1620. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. A free quilt show will be held in the auditorium lobby or art gallery previous to the show, and free Appalachian-themed refreshments will be provided during intermission.