By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
A beloved American classic is heading to the stage as TMP-Marian students bring "The Beverly Hillbillies" to life this week.
Travis Grizzell, TMP-Marian drama director, said the spring play closely follows the original TV series, using similar dialogue and storyline.
"We're going to try to honor the original spirit of the TV show that people are familiar with as best as we can," he said. "If you know the show, you'll have a good time."
The play will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online or at the door at the Dreiling Theater, 1701 Hall St.
The production includes about 30 cast members and 10 crew members. Grizzell said middle school students are also taking part in the nonmusical comedy.
"Jethro is going to be a crowd favorite, played by Eli Stein. Eli's fearless. He's not scared to go anywhere with the character," Grizell said. "Granny, played by Morgan Greenwood, is going to get a lot of laugh lines. She's done an amazing job with this character."
The cast also features fan favorites such as:
Jack Stoecklein as Mr. Drysdale
Catherine Marintzer as Miss Hathaway
Grace Schmeidler as Elly May Clampett
Blaise Staab as Jed Clampett
Carter Stephenson as George Turner
Grant Weber as Brewster
Lola Gerber as Cousin Pearl
Shea Goddard McGuirk as Mrs. Pennyweather
"There's a pretty familiar group of faces if you've attended the TMP productions in the last few years. There are some young surprises that maybe you haven't seen on stage before, with some kids settling into acting," Grizzell said.
Rehearsals began in early February but have been limited due to school activities, spring break and Easter break.
“The Beverly Hillbillies” is an American television sitcom that aired from 1962 to 1971. A three-act stage adaptation based on the pilot episode was written by David Rogers in 1968.
"I had a drama picked out, and I was ready to roll with it," Grizzell said. "Then I stumbled upon this old script, and I just started picturing the kids in the roles. This group loves to laugh and love comedy, so we switched gears."
The production begins in the Clampetts' mountain cabin with the family's discovery of oil.
"Old Jed is out hunting for food one day, and he shoots at a critter and misses. He hits the ground, and oil shoots out. He doesn't know it, but the seemingly worthless land that he's been living on is full of oil," Grizzell said.
The family then gets talked into moving to California, leading to absurd adventures and ridiculous romances.
Grizzell said the production will use traditional set design and emphasize the strong visual contrasts in costumes between the hillbillies and materialistic Californians.
He added that productions like this teach a wide range of skills, including logistics in budgeting and set design, as well as carpentry, communication and teamwork.
Grizzell said he hopes audiences take away the message to stay true to themselves because that is where happiness is found.
"If you're always chasing the money, to impress or to move up in the corporate ladder, that's not what makes life worth living," he said.
"It's the people you're around and how you treat each other. I think the Clampetts do a good job of, not even intentionally, but just living by example and showing us that simple is good and we all have commonalities, even if we're from drastically different backgrounds."
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