THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504210533
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: THEATER REVIEW
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
``Belles'' is a two-act play with six women and 39 phone calls.
How best to describe the Tulls Creek Players production? Try Weird - yes, with a capital ``W.''
It is the story of six sick sisters - try saying that five times - who spend all their time, onstage, on the telephone.
They complain and cry, moan and groan, sob and swear.
That brings us to another point. ``Belles'' is an adults-only comic drama - R-rated if it were a film.
The unusual production will be at Currituck High School today through Sunday, with a cast of stage veterans and newcomers.
Robbie Harrell and Allee Mines, 48 and 28, respectively, are the new kids on the block - very new. Neither has ever been onstage, not even in a school play.
Harrell got involved after a lot of begging by director/actress Sandy DeHart. Mines' involvement is the result of begging by her sister, actress Cookie Fish.
``I saw a couple of their productions. So far, this has been a lot of fun,'' Harrell said.
``I'm having fun,'' Mines said. ``But I have a case of the nerves.''
That could have something to do with many of her scenes - played while standing on her head.
For the most part, the six scenes - each representing a different home in a different state - are played through the telephone.
Call after call after call is made from one woman to another and back again. Even Rothschild gets in on the act. Rothschild is a dummy - literally - handled by Teresa Burnett.
He seems to be the only non-neurotic onstage.
Look at the sisters.
One is fairly cool and level-headed, but having some problems because she is still living with Mama. The rest of the gals? Oy.
One is described as a space queen; another is a man-hungry college girl who is trying to find herself; another is separated from her minister husband. She spends a lot of time on the Suicide Hotline and is often put on hold.
Another sister ``lives'' through her dummy; another is described by DeHart as a mother-hating ``alcoholic bitch.''
These lovely ding-dongs are all yours for a mere $3.50. by CNB