One Red Flower (February 2009)
Music by Paris Barclay
Book and Lyrics adapted for the stage by Paris Barclay from the book Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam, edited by Bernard Edelman for the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission
Directed by Craig Pettinati
Music Direction by Stuart Weich
Produced by Jenna Ballard
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Performances
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February 20 - March 14, 2009
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Location
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The Kensington Town Center (address is at the bottom of the page, and directions can be found here)
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For More Info
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Call us at 240.396.4307 or e-mail us at kat-information .
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Background
ONE RED FLOWER is a musical play inspired by the book, Dear America:
Letters Home From Vietnam. While expressing the tender emotions of
a soldier's life during war, it uses actual letters written by Vietnam War
soldiers and their loved ones.
Cast
Tim Adams – Specialist Fourth Class Billy "Spanky" Bridges
The most tragic character of them all. Ensconced in a safe but boring job as company clerk, Billy –forgetting the maxim "Never volunteer for anything" – pleads to get into the field and feel like a real soldier. He learns his lesson the hard way. He ends up being killed in a chopper crash 2 days before discharge.
Wendy Baird – Eleanor Bridges
Billy's mother. She is a sharp reminder of the normal world the men have left behind. Eleanor is normal, decent, and concerned, while the men become increasingly crazed and despondent.
Eymard Cabling – Specialist Fifth Class Marion Johnson
George's opposite, he sees the war's gory truth early on. After attending medical school for 2 years he makes the grievous error of taking a semester off and being drafted. He delivers some of the play's best lines (e.g., "The national flower of Vietnam should be an immense thorn") and develops deep-seated disdain for the politicians and generals who mired the soldiers in the mess.
James Finley – Private First Class Alan Chisholm
He is taken prisoner of war. He projects sympathy and pity, as is body and spirit deteriorate. Married to Debbie, he is from New England. Alan loses hope for is marriage. He is released at war's end, but commits suicide back home.
Greg Gardner – First Lieutenant Kenny Rutherford
He is very loyal to his men. He takes pride at their achievements and suppresses rage and despair when one of them dies. Has one daughter back home. Dies in a fire fight, Believes in this war. He is from Missouri.
Jon Keeling – Warrant Officer Michael Sandberg
Is a likable helicopter pilot who helps Billy adjust to the war's stresses. Has a girl back home called Penny. He is very patriotic, dies in helicopter crash.
Andrew Mitakides – Sergeant George McDuffy
A Baptist from Memphis Tennessee and a redneck solider who keeps up a brave, wisecracking front. He's well liked despite his occasional racial slurs. Has a girl back home, but she dumps him, very soldiery and eager to fight. Gets million dollar wound, and goes home.
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