Theatre Tuscaloosa will show its production of Alfred Uhry’s “Driving Miss Daisy” today at Shelton State’s Bean-Brown Theatre at 2:00 p.m.
Theatre Tuscaloosa previously ran the show, director Jeff Wilson’s first production, from Friday, April 23 through Sunday, April 25. This run will continue through May 2.
“Driving Miss Daisy” originally premiered in 1987 as an off-Broadway production and was later adapted by Warner Bros. into a movie in 1989.
The plot centers on the relationship of rich, southern widow Daisy Werthan, played by UA alumna Drew Baker, and her black chauffeur Hoke Coleburn, played by Dave Rodgers. The story spans a 25-year period, from 1948 to 1973.
“Despite Daisy and Hoke’s obvious and latent individual differences, the scenes play out and the two grow ever closer to and more dependent on each other through their experiences together,” according to a Shelton State news release,
At the beginning of the play, Daisy wrecks her car, which leads to her son, Boolie Werthan, played by Charles Prosser, to hire a chauffeur to drive Daisy.
“[Daisy] is 72 years old,” Baker said. “She is very feisty, independent and used to having things her way and doing things for herself. She is southern, Jewish, white and strong-willed, and now her son wants to hire a black man to drive her. She fights everything Hoke wants her to do.”
Baker said what she looks forward to the most about this production is the audience’s reaction.
“It seems that the people who come to the show are really relating to the characters, almost like they have a vested interest,” she said. “The audiences have been incredible so far.”
She said she thinks after watching the performance, the audience will think about the relationships in their own lives because they could be dealing with some of the same issues as the characters.
“I think as the audience watches these three characters on the stage, hopefully they’ll be able to relate to one or more of the characters as a part of themselves or a member of their family,” Baker said.
Wheeler Kincaid, a UA alumnus, makes Theatre Tuscaloosa’s production of “Driving Miss Daisy” very different from other productions of the play and even the movie, Baker said.
“The set for this play is very minimal, and I like this because it puts more emphasis on the acting. It’s all about what’s happening to the three people on stage,” Baker said.
Theatre Tuscaloosa’s “Driving Miss Daisy” is a 90-minute play with no intermission. Tickets can be purchased at theatretusc.com or by calling 205-391-2277.
