There?s nothing like a Sunday drive ? except at CCBC Catonsville, where audiences can experience the play “Driving Miss Daisy” all weekend long.
The Catonsville Theatre Company is presenting the play with local actors Kathryn E. Smith (Daisy) and Archie Williams Jr. (Hoke). Steve Lichtenstein plays Boolie, Daisy?s son.
Written by Alfred Uhry in 1987, he drew upon his own Southern Jewish roots to bring the story to life. Through a series of vignettes, the plot follows the story of a surprising friendship struck between an elderly Southern Jewish woman and her black chauffeur before and during the Civil Rights era.
“It just touches so many places in the heart,” said Joey Hellman, the director for CTC?s production. “It?s a story that needs to be told.”
Hellman said the play touches on deeper issues than just interracial relations, like the fact that Daisy and Hoke are both targets of discrimination ? he because of his race, she because of her religion. “It covers a 20-year friendship between them, so you?ve got the times of the 1950s to the 1970s and how we?ve changed since then,” he said. “But at the same time, it shows how far we haven?t gotten. There are still aspects of hatred and intolerance out there, but friendships are still here. Friendships in the most unlikely places are still happening.”
CTC co-founder Robin Lee considers the cast?s performance as the play?s highlight.
“The acting is superb,” she said. “We have a great cast. They are very talented.”
Hellman agreed.
“I lucked out,” he said. “We have great actors. Kathryn has been acting for several years. And [Archie and Steve] have been involved with the Baltimore Playwrights Festival for years.”
Hellman describes the play as a “touching story with humor” and says fans of the 1989 film, which won four Academy Awards, starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy won?t be disappointed.
“The play is pretty much verbatim from the movie,” he said. “[The plot] still tells an important story today. You can get something out of this play no matter who you are.”
If you go
“Driving Miss Daisy”
» Venue: Catonsville Theatre Company, CCBC Catonsville Campus, 800 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville
» Times: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday
» Tickets: $10 to $15
» More info: 410-455-4400
