Guess Who's Coming to Dinner at Hendersonville Theatre
What’s on the menu for the launch of Hendersonville Theatre’s 59th season? A feast of flavors with no holds barred, courtesy of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Adapted for the stage by Todd Kreidler and based on the groundbreaking Civil Rights era film written by William Rose, the material provides potent social commentary on racial prejudice, class, family, and love.
From the opening scene of Hendersonville Theatre’s production, it’s exceedingly apparent how fundamentally the performers understand this material. Designed by Dakota Mann, the stage is both beautiful and clever in its simple and elegant arrangement, complete with a lovely terrace in the corner. Within these surroundings, I found myself enthralled by the symphony of human discourse, created by simultaneous dialogue occurring throughout the set.
Directed by Victoria Lamberth, this production is infused with a timeless human connection that echoes age-old conflicts and questions. It poignantly considers who is actually welcomed into the family with an open seat at the table and why — providing complex answers rooted in protection and preservation of loved ones as well as tradition.
The story’s plot is kick-started by 20something Joanna Drayton (played by Rixa Clark), who pops up for a surprise visit in San Francisco to see her parents and spread what she perhaps initially and naively views as the “good news.” Her father Matt (Doug Sparks) runs a popular newspaper and is considered to be on the more progressive and liberal end of politics. However, when he discovers that his daughter has in fact fallen in love with a man of color, things naturally become quite awkward and tense.
Joanna's mother Christina (Pamela Flasch) initially has a similar reaction as Mr. Drayton in regard to the shock of the situation, albeit a bit more internalized. Nevertheless, she finds herself in the position of being the first in the household to reflect an accepting change of heart.
As the catalyst of this drama, revered physician Dr. John Prentice (Elijah York) respects the family tradition of the father's approval a bit more than his hopeful fiancée-to-be. However, he hasn't been completely forthcoming about information he has shared with his own parents, which leads to its own fascinating tensions.
Further stoking the dramatic fires, Joanna secretly invites John’s parents to dinner. When they arrive and realize the true reality and gravity of the circumstances, things quickly unravel, therefore unhinging any semblance of peace and order. Eventually, a common thread is found between the parents who are forced to weigh all sides of their plight and seek some kind of resolution, even if manifesting primarily in the form of unconditional love for their children.
This is a heartwarming family drama, comedy, and social statement all at once. It also incorporates feel-good music of the ’60s between certain scenes — including tunes from Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Otis Redding. Through it all, the actors are authentic and very believable, providing reassurance in a world that can incur doubt, fear, and confusion.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner runs through Sunday, Feb. 16, at Hendersonville Theatre. For details and tickets, visit hendersonvilletheatre.org.
(Photo by John Owens)
