THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503020447
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Somebody forgot to tell Brooke Burkart that she is a high school sophomore. In a local theatrical production, she acts like a professional.
Her portrayal of Millie, the younger sister in ``Picnic,'' is the finest dramatic performance in my memory by an actor younger than 21.
Burkart's compelling personality and her complete grasp of the character she portrays is a riveting combination.
The Theatre of Dare production, ending this weekend at Manteo Middle School, is a showcase of professionalism in which actors and actresses offer intense, impressive portrayals of William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning characters.
The old hat story concerns a wanderer who hooks up with an old pal in a small Kansas town, then hooks up with his pal's girlfriend.
It is the characters, the performers, who create the interest and wallow in the lengthy, deserved applause.
There was applause from the start, when the curtain rose to reveal an outstanding backyard set, as flawless as the actors who populate it - actors who let loose with their problems and emotions.
``Picnic'' takes place in the 1950s when 16-year-old Millie asks, ``how do you talk to boys?'' - a question girls half her age are asking in the 1990s.
Her problem is awkward adolescence. She is very bright, but does not consider herself pretty. Her sister, Madge, two years older, is vice-versa. Gina Miller's portrayal of Madge is right on the mark.
The men in her life are Alan Seymour, the town square - a fine portrayal by Eric Hause - and the vagabond, Hal Carter.
The vagabond is a showy part and muscular Sidney Bounds makes the most of it. He is outstanding, 100 percent believable when he speaks calmly, argues, fights, loves.
When you watch him you do not feel you are watching someone portraying a character. You are convinced he is that character.
There are no bad, or even mediocre performances in ``Picnic.'' The standouts, for the most part, are the more dramatic roles.
Rosemary Sidney for one. She is literature's classic frustrated old maid schoolteacher, cautious at first then bold, looking for love.
The portrayal by Pat Clayton is chilling, frighteningly real as she cajoles her boyfriend, Howard Bevans, into marriage. And, therein lies another prime piece of acting.
Tom Charity, as Bevans, is an out-for-a-good-time kind-of guy who becomes the mostly unwilling victim of the love-starved teacher.
These people can hardly be called amateur performers. They are strong, convincing actors and actresses, blessed with fine George Spence direction and wonderful Inge characters who tear through almost every known emotion.
Most of them have been seen before in Theatre of Dare productions. Burkart is the amazing newcomer, a youngster who, it is hoped, will consider acting as a career. ILLUSTRATION: THEATER REVIEW
The Theatre of Dare presents ``Picnic'' at 8 p.m. today, Friday
and Saturday at Manteo Middle School.
by CNB