“Crimes of the Heart” Eunice Players’ next offering

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Rehearsals are underway as Eunice Players’ Theatre continues its 50th anniversary season with “Crimes of the Heart”.
This heartwarming comedy is written by Beth Henley and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1981. It was first produced by EPT in 1988 under the direction of Victor Andrews.
The story is set in a small town in Mississippi and it centers on the Magrath sisters who come together following a startling incident surrounding one of them. As it turns out, they all have troubles, at times both grave and somehow, hilarious, and often highlighted by their priggish cousin, an awkward young lawyer, and an ex-boyfriend.
While the characters seek to escape the past to seize the future, their journey is so true and touching and consistently humorous that it will linger in the heart long after audiences have left the theatre.
Directed by Jody L. Powell, the cast features stage veterans and newcomers alike.
Leading the family is Lauren B. Bourgeois of Opelousas who plays Lenny Magrath, the spinster oldest sister, who has stayed at home to take care of old Granddaddy. Lauren honed her acting skills at Opelousas Little Theatre where she was featured in “August: Osage County”, and as Fiona in “Shrek, The Musical”, and where she directed “The Rocky Horror Show”. Lauren won two Irving Awards last year, one for Best Cameo and one for Best Lighting and Sound.
Playing the Magrath’s middle sister, Meg, is Sarah S. Andrepont of Eunice. Audiences may remember her from EPT’s “On Golden Pond” and “A Nice Family Gathering”. She has also worked in the lighting and sound booth at EPT.
Ava Stanford of Opelousas has the role of the youngest sister, Babe. She has been a chorus member in shows at Opelousas Little Theatre, including “The Rocky Horror Show”, “Shrek, the Musical”, “Hairspray”, and “The Wizard of Oz”.
The sisters’ first cousin and next door neighbor, Chick, is played by Kelly P. Bertrand of Eunice. Kelly was featured as Lexie in EPT’s “The Dixie Swim Club” for which she won the Irving Award for Best Actress.
Making his stage debut as the young lawyer infatuated with Babe is Ian Drake Bellon of Rayne. He worked back stage for “Camelot” and won an Irving Award for Best Lighting and Sound for “The Diary of Anne Frank”, both at EPT.
Nathaniel Clark rounds out the cast as Doc Porter, Meg’s ex-boyfriend. In training to be voice actor, Nathaniel has appeared in EPT’s “Black Coffee”, “Play On!”, and last season’s”Southern Fried Funeral”.
Evening performances will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 18, 19, 23, 26, 27, and 28. The matinee is at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22. Dinner theatre (with steak and trimmings) is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Tickets will be available soon. All seats are $15; dinner is an additional $20. Season ticket packages are still available.
The theater is located at 121 S. Second St. in Eunice. More information can be found on EPT’s Facebook page.