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By CategoryThe Real Queen of Hearts Ain’t Even Pretty
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The Real Queen of Hearts Ain’t Even PrettyA Stage II Production
2005-10-18
Article Written by: Jillian Smith
Unlike the Seaside Music Theater here in Daytona, the Sands Theater Center in DeLand has more than one production team working at any given time during the season. The Sands Theater is broken down into several groups, the largest and most common of which are the Main Stage and Stage II productions. Main Stage is the more experienced of the two and puts on a full season of professionally directed productions each year. Stage II, on the other hand, is known for giving amateurs and beginners an opportunity to perform everything from contemporary favorites to classics in front of an audience in an intimate “black box theater” setting. On October 14th, Stage II opened their production of Brad Bailey’s “The Real Queen of Hearts Ain’t Even Pretty.”
This story takes place in Alabama around 1976. The set the audience sees is a simple locker room in the Winston County High School gym. While the Queen of Hearts beauty pageant is happening somewhere offstage, we are given the chance to see all the behind-the-scene action first hand—including all the drama, catfights, drinking, swearing, and so much more. This is probably the reason for the disclaimer warning members of the audience to be prepared for adult language and situations. The cursing seemed slightly gratuitous in some places instead of flowing like normal conversation for the all-girl cast, but it did add a little more depth to the otherwise slightly flat characters. Liz Nichols, played by Jenny Fedor, is the designated star of the show. An attractive young girl and former pageant contestant in the pageant, Liz is forced to stay on the sidelines this year, and she is clearly bitter about it. She takes the opportunity, though, to explain the ins and outs of the contest to her friend Cass Wilson, played by Sarah Marie Smith. Because of an acute case of homeliness, Cass was not nominated to be a contestant this year or any other, but she is nonetheless enthralled by Liz, the beauty pageant, and all the secrets that are revealed to her throughout the play. Sherri Lee Speer, played by Liberty Bostwick, is the villain of this story since she is Liz’s only rival and the eventual winner of this year’s pageant. Rounding out the cast with a little comic relief is Paula Burgess, played by Ayla Parsons. Drunk and confused from the first time we see her, Paula makes her way backstage after having thrown up on a teacher’s shoes onstage. Her drunken rambling and comic misunderstandings kept me laughing every time she opened her mouth—and she managed to divert attention from some of the problems that the cast encountered.
Though the small cast is comprised only of four girls, these performers clearly gave it their all, even in the moments when they were struggling. The Alabama accents were off more than once, and there were instances of forgotten lines and awkward silences, but that is what Stage II is all about. It gives newcomers the opportunity to hone their skills before making it to the Main Stage. This is a wonderful chance for theater lovers to catch rising stars before they make their way to the top—as long as you bear in mind that the performance will not be flawless. “The Real Queen of Hearts Ain’t Even Pretty” runs October 20, 21 and 22 at 8 pm, and October 23 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now for $12, but students can pick theirs up for only $6.
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