kodachrome, oh, yeah!

"They give us those nice bright colors

They give us the greens of summer

Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away"

 

Ever since I heard the name of this play, that Paul Simon song from my teen years has run rampant down the corridors of my mind.

It's been at least since 1973 that I've been taking photographs.

In 1976, I took lots of photos of places in Savannah, documenting my home town before I went off to see the world with the Navy.

 

That's why I was so interested in this play that Savannah Country Day School chose for its entry into the regional one-act competition in Macon next week.

A modern play written by Adam Szymkowicz, "Kodachrome" takes place in a small town and is told by the local photographer, 'Suzanne', who has the only spoken words for the first fifteen minutes or so of the play.

Kudos to Kharis Ott for a phenomenal performance!

 

That's her, in the near-center, the blonde in the white outfit.

As the story unfolds, she is revealed to be the dead wife of the hardware store owner, 'Charlie' (Cameron Lotz), who has been bringing flowers for her grave for 4 years.

The gravedigger, 'Earl' (Andrew Montgomery), has also been bringing flowers regularly to her grave, but there's a difference: he can see and speak to her ghost.

He's become a bit alarmed that she has not yet moved on, but he's patient.

He can see the writing on the wall (another line from the song), and knows the day is coming when the librarian, 'Renee' (Caroline Bergmann), will get up the nerve - after four years - to ask 'Charlie' out for dinner.

After all, they dated in high school, before he ever met 'Suzanne'.

Very lovely!

As well as those romances, we have a young couple (played by Tanner Kaminsky and Kensie Glass) whose love story is just beginning, as well as an empty-nest couple (Ander Renalt and Dabney Anderson) who have drifted toward divorce after their daughter goes off to college.

All of these tales are accompanied by photographs displayed on two big-screen televisions, serving to dress the set, along with a central station that serves as the florist shop, the library, and the hardware store.

Why was all of that important?

As I said, this is the troupe's entry for the competition, and everything is timed.

They must go from bare stage, through the performance, to bare stage again, and this time it's within 55 minutes.

They completed it this Saturday afternoon, during their final performance of three on their home stage, in just over 52 minutes.

Bravo!!!

Afterward, several members of the cast had thanks and gifts to distribute, then their teacher, James Venhaus, had words for his three seniors.

From left to right, those seniors are Ander, Kensie, and Andrew.

Such bright futures they will have!

I'll look forward to seeing them again in the spring, in "Mamma Mia!"!!!

Here's wishing all broken legs for their competition in Macon!!!