Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre presents
“All The King’s Women” By Luigi Jannuzzi
Directed by Brian Smith
Produced by Brett Sandlin
Featuring Hall of Fame Disc Jockey Jim Labarbara at selected performances
8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Parrish Auditorium, Miami University Hamilton
Tickets are $16 adults; $15 students/seniors; $14 group tickets
www.ghctplay.com or 513-737-PLAY
Elvis loved the ladies, and the ladies loved Elvis. There can be no doubt about that.
What that really means on a broader cultural level is explored in “All the King’s Women,” the latest offering from Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre, opening Thursday at Parrish Auditorium, Miami University Hamilton.
Director Brian Smith said he initially encountered the Luigi Jannuzzi script while doing another of his plays at Ross High School, where he is the drama director.
At first, he simply thought it would be a good play to highlight some of the Civic Theatre female talent, but soon came to realize the the significance of the play on a cultural level.
He said that he was only 10 years old himself when Elvis Presley died, but remembers that a female neighbor came to a barbecue in the neighborhood to break the news, and how upset she was.
“I wouldn’t really call myself a fan,” he said, “but I’m staggered by how many people follow the man. He had some kind of hold, and I think it was because he was such a genuine guy and really went out of his way to help people.”
Of course, like anyone who reaches the heights of fame and wealth such as Elvis is going to have some issues, and certainly the King had his, but “All the King’s Women” focuses on the positive aspects of his persona, his generosity and his eagerness to please his fans.
The play is set up as a collection of monologues and short scenes. The scene, Smith said, takes place in 1946 and features the saleswoman who sold Elvis his first guitar. Other characters include the White House secretary who was on duty when Elvis went to meet Richard Nixon, a car dealer who sold him one of the many Cadillacs he gave away, a present-day girl who works at the Graceland gift shop and a security guard at NBC who remembers the night Elvis came on the Steve Allen show to sing “Hound Dog” to a hound dog.
“So a lot of it is based on actual events in Elvis’ life,” Smith said, “but imagined and fictionalized.
“Most of it is comedic, but some of it is sentimental,” he said.
Elvis himself is not a character in any of the scenes, but producers have brought in some star power by bringing in Jim LaBarbara, a popular AM radio disc jockey in the Cincinnati area during much of Elvis’ career, to do some voice-overs in the play.
On the Friday and Saturday performances, the curtain will be delayed for 15 minutes while LaBarbara reads some Elvis anecdotes from his new book “The Music Professor,” and briefly addresses the audience. He will also be available after the show for a book signing.
The cast of “All the King’s Women” includes Tiffani Anglin, Jacob Favors, Meg Haven, Christine Lilly, Rhonda Lucas, Renee Maria and Beth McClain.
About the Author