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MICHAEL EDWARDS EXCELS IN IS ROLE AS MARK TWAIN AT WINTER PARK PLAYHOUSE
The Winter Park Playhouse presented Michael Edwards in his one-man show Man Is The Only Animal Who Blushes...Or Needs To -- An Evening with Mark Twain -- during two performances April 20 and 21. The performance was held in the cozy little theater tucked in the rear of the Master Class Academy located at 711-B Orange Avenue in Winter Park. Guests were enchanted by Edwards' flawless portrayal of Mark Twain. You could have sworn it was Mark Twain reincarnated. Edwards brought the audience into the world of Mark Twain during his performance in a re-creation of the platform evenings popular at the turn of the century. The script included segments of Twain's public speeches, short stories and commentary. After intermission, he told a ghost story that kept the audience mesmerized and virtually on the edge of their seats. Heather Alexander was cast as an interviewer who became more and more befuddled as Twain gave her rather uncustomary answers to her questions. Alexander has over 19 years of experience as an actress and singer. Pianist Will Benton entertained the audience before the show and during intermission. The talented musician can regularly be seen and heard at first United Methodist Church of Winter Park and in many instrumental and vocal ensembles around Central Florida. Edwards, whose career spans more than three decades in theaters across the country, is best known to local audiences from his over 25 productions at The Mark Two Dinner Theatre. In regional theatres, he has appeared opposite such luminaries as Mimi Hines and Brian Dennehy, and his directing credits span 25 years in theatres throughout the Southeast. In recent years, Richards has toured the show nationally in Riverboat Ragtime Revue portraying Twain as the guest of honor in a program recreating a Mississippi riverboat show. He once performed on a riverboat just south of Hannibal, Missouri, Twain's hometown. Man Is The Only Animal Who Blushes...Or Needs To was the inaugural performance held at the Winter Park Playhouse. Prior to opening night, a special performance was given for invited guests. Roy Alan, executive director, noted in his address before the play began, that it was the "beginning of a new era in professional theater, not only in Winter Park, but in Central Florida." According to Alan, the theatre has undergone extensive renovation, and plans are to build an intimate, elegant 80-seat theater to be completed by August. The goal of the Winter Park Playhouse is to present four musicals and two comedies each season, with the possibility of a new original work once a year. The Winter Park Playhouse will present an Evening of Music from the Great White Way featuring a cast of top professionals and aspiring young performers on Friday, May 10, 3p.m. and Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Seating is limited so call for reservations right away at 407-645-0145. The production staff includes Edwards as director; Cheryl Bott as production coordinator; with costumes by Debbie Bowlus and Ray Oxley as technical director. |