By DANIELLE MORGAN
Contributing Writer
Teaching fellow Kathy Blandin, along with assistant director Nic Sridej, directed “Mother Hicks” by Suzan Zeder, which played through this past weekend.
“Mother Hicks” is a story about a small town by the name of Ware in the grips of the Great Depression.
According to Blandin, even though the play is set in 1935, it could have happened last week, and these characters could even be our next-door neighbors.
For example, the characters in the play blame Mother Hicks for the terrible things that happening to their economy, while here in 2012, people blame the government.
The aesthetics of the set were the creation of junior theatre major Matt McClure. As set designer, he transformed the Blackbox Theater to space that another decade.
To add to the genuine feel of the small town of Ware, Blandin hired a bluegrass band to play during the show, even though the play never mentions anything about a band. Not only did “Mother Hicks” have bluegrass music in the background, but the crew specifically created all of the sound effect the audience heard as well.
The townspeople of Ware were spectacular. Junior theatre major Melissa Rice’s character, Alma, was very delicate and a pleasure to watch.
Sophomore theatre education major Krista Baker played the role of Girl, who kept everyone on their toes in fear of what crazy mischief she might get herself into next.
Junior theatre major Katie Robinson played Mother Hicks, and she did her character extreme justice.
While all of the main characters were brilliant, there was something that was even more magnificent: Piedmont College’s theatre department introduced Eddie Zaboroskie, who plays the deaf character Tuc.
Zaboroskie used sign language throughout the whole play, while junior theatre major Ben Cisse vocally interpreted Zaboroskie’s passionate motions.
Mother Hicks, Girl and Tuc shared many meanigful scenes, as they were marginalized citizens that truly did not have someone to go home to.
Mother Hicks and Girl also shared sweet scenes throughout the play that warmed the hearts of audience members.
The cast and crew did a superb job of putting on a show that took a lot of work and effort.
All in all, the Piedmont College theatre department deserves a standing ovation for another job well done.