FIVE FLOWERS -- Lanesboro Community Theatre

St. Mane Theatre, Lanesboro, MN
script: Forrest Musselman
director: Jill Underwood
cast: Maureen Anderson, Nancy Carruthers Huisenga, Peter Torkelson, Karrie Ellingson, Jody Rinn, Ceil Allen, Terry Neneman, Cal Zutz, Tony Streng, Tom Schramm
producer: Rocky Haddorff
scenic design: Eric Knutson
lights: Eric Decker
costumes: Heidi Dybing
sound: Phil Dybing
stage manager/props: Jenna Bolland

WORLD PREMIERE

An older woman moves in to senior housing but discovers, and shows her family, that being elderly doesn't necessarily mean slowing down.

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There's a lot going for this play ... the use of older actors in major roles is excellent. Certainly something that many community theatres could use.

Unfortunately, the script lacks focus. Or is trying to tell too many stories.

Sub-plots are okay, but not when they over-shadow the main plot.

It seems that the main story revolves around Rose and her relatively new life in senior housing. However, this is greatly over-shadowed by the fact that the title, "Five Flowers," refers to the women in the family, each of them named for a flower. Suspiciously, one of them never appears on stage and if she's mentioned, everyone quickly quiets and there is an air of mystery ... a mystery that is NEVER EXPLAINED. Why title it "Five Flowers" if the fifth flower isn't ever going to appear and we're never to learn why?!

And the vagabond son who hasn't been heard from in years. His appearance is as non-chalant as the nurse's. What's up? Why is he back? Why did he leave? What's going to happen now that he's here? Some of this is answered, but ever so casually.

The performance was definitely carried by Nancy Carruthers Huisenga as "Rose." She was energetic and lively and offered the full range of emotions appropriate for the part.

The part of Gladys was wonderful comic relief.

A fun show, but needs some re-writes still.