“Noises Off” won for the Best Play of the 2019 Players’ Theatres’ season. The award was presented during the 50th annual Eunice Players’ Irving Awards held Saturday at Nick’s on 2nd Street.
The play, directed by Annette Harrington and Brett Faulkner, is written by Michael Frayn.
“Noises Off,” a comedy, presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called “Nothing’s On.” Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play. “Noises Off” takes side-splitting laughter to the next level, and makes you wonder if that metaphor is literally true. The best way to describe this show is like theatrical bump car. One problem bumps into the next problem, and this continues until the conclusion of the show.
The cast and crew of “Noises Off” include Angie McBride, Kristi Burleigh, Robert Soileau, Sharon Blankenship, Michael Sanchez, April Miller, Gabrielle Reed, Kristi Burleigh, Jeanne Eddins, Nathaniel Clark, Nick Faulkner, Mary Guillory, Cindy Veillon Mattei, Casey Harmon, Michael Bourgeois, Diana Burleigh, Anne Harrington, Caleb Delafosse, Jody L. Powell, Ching Wasmuth, Lori Cormier, Tiffany Johnson and Emily O’Neill.
The three 2019 nominated plays up for voting were “Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?”, directed by Jimmy Broussard, “Crimes of the Heart,” directed by Jody L. Powell, and “Noises Off,” directed by Annette Harrington and Brett Faulkner.
“Noises Off” won for Best Set with Nick Faulkner, Robert Soileau, Mary Guillory and Joshua Faulkner.
Winning Best Lighting & Sound was “Noises Off” with Sharon Blankenship and Gabe Ortego.
The award for Best Costumes went to “Daddy’s Dyin, Who’s Got the Will?” with Joan Cotner, Angie McBride, Melanie Soileau and Rob Soileau.
For the Best Hair and Makeup, there was a tie, “Crimes of the Heart,” and “Noises Off,” with recipients Emily Leger, Emily Soileau, Vanessa Schendel, Lori Cormier, Tiffany Johnson and Emily O’Neil.
Kristi Burleigh as Brooke Ashton of “Noises Off,” won the Best Supporting Actress.
The Best Supporting Actor award went to Brett Faulkner as Daddy Turnover in “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got The Will?”
The Best Actress award was presented to Gabe Ortego on behalf of the late Suzanne LaHaye, as her part as Mama Wheels in “Daddy’s Dyin’, Whos’ Got the Will?”
The Best Actor award went to Gabe Ortego as Orville Turnover in “Daddy’s Dyin, Who’s Got the Will?”
Annette Harrington and Brett Faulkner won The Best Directors award in “Noises Off.”
The participants of the summer musical show, “Godspell” were recognized. Godspell was directed by Angie B. McBride.
The Irving Dancers, from Michelle’s School of Dance, and Oliva Dodd’s Studio of Dance, performed selected songs from “Singin in The Rain,” and selected songs from “Annie.”
The Irving Singers, Melanie Soileau, Rob Soileau, Angie McBride, Taylor LaCalle, Darrel LeJeune, Bradley Credeur, Jeanne Eddins, Amy Maricle, and Sharon Blankenship, with Jimmy Broussard accompanying on piano, sang and performed musicals from, “The Apple Tree, and “Godspell,” as well as “Cinderella”, “Oklahoma,” “Anything Goes,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Damn Yankees.”
Jody L. Powell was awarded the Tim Wooten Memorial Award, presented by Van Reed. Reed wrote a nomination letter commending Powell for her many years dedicated to the theater. This award is voted upon by the board of directors and the vote was unanimous. This prestigious award is granted to those who show exemplary service and commitment to the theatre, and has only been handed out 12 times in the theatre’s 50-year history.
David Manuel, president for the past 22 +years of the Eunice Players’ Theatre was presented an appreciation and service award. He is ‘retiring and passing the position’ to a new board member and president, Gabe Ortego.
During the course of the evening a slide-show presentation of past 50 years of Eunice Players’ Theatre’s past founders, actors, actresses, board members and directors was shown. Some of those included: Karl DeRouen, Doris Stagg, Sophie Kerstein, Joanie Kerstein, Glenora Jorden, Jeannie Tanner, Beth Manuel, Jim Mullough, Paul Rozas, David Courville, Rusty Moody, Dr. Charles Faust, Joan McManus, Versie Briscoe, Fred Dole, Fr. Chuck Burleigh, Penny Schneider, Johnny Uzzo, Skip Stewart, Eliza Ardoin, Betty Fay Miller, Wade Naquin, Eileen Moosa Andrews, Victor Andrews, Butch Cobb, Dianne Cobb, Kathy Frulla Simmons, Kent Guidry, Doug Simmons, Holbert Blair, Renee Duplechain, Elaine DeMay, Larry Lafleur, Anita Voinche, Paulette Thibodeaux, Jerry Hoffpauir, Glenn Mentel, Donald Chapman, Wilber Tee Young, Pillar Parrie, and Suzanne LaHaye.
Guest presenters included actors and patrons from Eunice Players’ Theatre earliest years including Gary Reeves, Gary Miller, and Debbi Ardoin, Karen Hail, Darrell Smith, Dr. A.C. Miller, John Pucheu, and Angelle Driggs; neighbors and business partners, Travis Carriere and Jason Bertrand, representing Nick’s on 2nd and Bertrand’s Printing & Office Supply, respectively; past presidents David Manuel and Annette Harrington; actors Vernon McManus and Donald Mayeau from EPT’s first season’s Best Play, “The Odd Couple”; two Joan Kerstein Musical Award recipients, Angie B. McBride and Darrel LeJeune; Jenny Cobb Reed and Karlie DeRouen, both representing their fathers, Butch Cobb and Karl DeRouen, both of whom were presidents and Tim Wooten Award recipients; and a trio of actresses, Mary Gail Lamonte, Jody Lamonte Powell, and Rachel Powell Cronmiller, three generations who have all won the Best Actress award.
The new 2020 board members for the Eunice Players’ Theatre are Gabe Ortego, president; Annette Harrington, vice-president, Kristi Burleigh, treasurer; Denise Fusilier, secretary; Jody L. Powell, historian, Brett Faulkner, executive board member; Angie B. McBride, Jimmy Broussard, Bonnie Pitre Kyzar, Lise Richard, Sharon Blankenship, Shawn Darbonne, Jeanne Eddins, Randy Fontenot and Becky Broussard.
The 51st season of the Eunice Players’ Theatre will present three productions. They are, “Cheaters,” directed by Jody L. Powell, “Rumors,” directed by Gabe Ortego and Heidi Pitre Dischler, and “The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular,” directed by Sharon Blankenship, Amy Maricle, and Jeanne Eddins.
There will also be a children’s production in the summer, directed by Angie B. McBride.
Season tickets are available now at Beaucoup, 114 S. 2nd St. in Eunice, or from any board member. Call for information and details at 550-4727, or go to Eunice Players’ Theatre’s Facebook page.