By Drew Fleming
As I took my seat at Fauquier Community Theatre, I immediately found myself in a time long ago, post-WWII, in the late 1940s. The pre-show entertainment on the screen included the likes of Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. The stage was set with great anticipation.
I wondered to myself how it would be possible that a cast of three could possibly keep my attention for any length of time. Well, Miss Daisy (played by Tina Mullins) and her son Boolie (played by Wilson Johnson) entered from upstage and those thoughts quickly evaporated. I was hooked, and so was the rest of the audience.
Several years ago I saw the movie version of Driving Miss Daisy with Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, and Dan Akroyd. I loved every minute of it! I loved every minute of this show as well. When Hoke (played by Kevin Sockwell) entered on stage left, you just knew you were in for a good time. He did not disappoint.
Director Jeff Walker, Assistant Director Debbie Martin, and Producer Stub Estey planned a real treat for this theater patron, and everyone else at FCT on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize–winning play Driving Miss Daisy is set in the South starting in 1948 and taking us on a ride through 25 years of Boolie, Miss Daisy, and Hoke, along with some other folks we never really get to meet. The story starts prior to the Civil Rights Movement and then goes straight through the ’60s, all the while showing us the growth and changes in these characters.
In the end, it’s very clear that there is a kindred spirit between Miss Daisy and Hoke. A bond that cannot be broken. It’s beautiful to watch. The chemistry on stage between Miss Daisy, Hoke, and Boolie is worth the price of admission alone. The acting was so good you didn’t realize you were watching actors. Tina Mullins, Kevin Sockwell, and Wilson Johnson received a standing ovation for their performance. It was well deserved.
The cast and crew of Driving Miss Daisy are stellar in all areas and should be cheered. Bravo to everyone, there are way too many to mention.
Driving Miss Daisy plays through March 24, 2024, presented by Fauquier Community Theatre performing at Vint Hill Theatre on the Green, 4225 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, VA. Tickets ($16–$18) are available online, at the door, or by calling the box office at 540-349-8760.
Printed playbills are available at the performances and also online here.
See Facebook for additional photos.
COVID Safety: Fauquier Community Theatre is following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Virginia Department of Health. As such, we will not have any seating or distancing restrictions. Face coverings are optional. If you feel sick or are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone sick, please do not attend. The theater’s complete COVID Procedures are here.
This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
Drew Fleming is a local actor and singer/songwriter in Northern Virginia.
