Tryon Little Theater debuts season opener Friday

TRYON — Despite some hurricane-related drama behind the curtains, the Tryon Little Theater’s latest show must go on.

The community theater company will debut its production of Alfred Uhry’s “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the TLT Workshop, located at 516 S. Trade St., Tryon. An audience reception will take place at the workshop before the show, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Encore presentations will take place this Saturday and Sunday, as well as Thursday through Sunday next week. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. for Thursday through Saturday performances, and at 3 p.m. on Sundays.

“The Last Night of Ballyhoo” is a comedic play penned by Uhry, of “Driving Miss Daisy” fame, which debuted as part of the Olympic Arts Festival in Atlanta in 1996. The play went on to win four Tony Awards the following year, including for Best Play.

Set in Atlanta in December 1939 — before the premiere of the film adaptation of the classic Southern novel, “Gone with the Wind,” and shortly after the Hitler-led German conquest of Poland — the play depicts an upper-class Jewish family who, having living for generations in the South, have become so highly assimilated that they have a Christmas tree in their living room. Throughout the play, the characters struggle with several intra-family conflicts — as well as with their own Jewish identity — all while preparing for the big Ballyhoo ball, sponsored by their highly restrictive country club.

While the script is chock full of funny moments, the play contains some deep underlying themes that, despite being set nearly 80 years in the past, are still relevant to today’s audiences, regardless of their religious or societal backgrounds, said director Carol Cox.

“The show is about family values, and knowing who you are and what your place is in society,” Cox said. “These are all common things we can relate to.”

Cox, a veteran of the TLT director’s chair, is helming a cast of seven for the show, including two newcomers to the Tryon theater company, she said. The cast and crew have spent the past five weeks preparing for the show — one less week than usual, Cox said.

On top of the shortened timeframe, the cast and production team ran into several issues while putting together the show. The most significant setback was the arrival of Hurricane Florence last weekend, which caused the theater to lose several days of important rehearsals leading up to the premiere.

Despite the issues, the theater only had to delay opening night by a single day, from Thursday to Friday, and the cast’s performances are in good shape heading into the show’s debut, Cox said.

“The cast is so wonderful,” Cox said. “They really stepped up to the plate, in spite of all the challenges.”

Those interested in learning more about the show may contact TLT at 828-859-2466 or may visit tltinfo.org.