“Driving Miss Daisy”, a drama by Alfred Uhry, has one thing going for it immediately, a top- notch story. But it also has a stealth asset, a great collection of conversations, in an extremely tight script. Only one thing is needed to complete the trifecta, making this 1987 play a huge success: a terrific cast. Local theater group Wapakoneta Theatre Guild, has put these three requisites together to achieve a most rewarding success. tonight, I was privileged to attend what I feel was the best WTG offering I have seen.
“Driving Miss Daisy” is the tale of an elderly Jewish lady in the south, and her trip through the forties, fifties, and sixties. She can no longer drive. He son hires a driver for her, an African American, named Hoke. She does not want, and won’t accept someone she doesn’t feel she needs. Hoke takes it all in stride, killing Daisy with kindness. The ever-increasing respect, tolerance, and eventual friendship they forge is at times frustrating, humorous, and poignant. The concept depends, a great deal, upon the chemistry of its three-person cast.
WTG takes the challenge, bringing in three theater veterans to provide the impetus to move this superb story forward. Lucy Noyes as Daisy, shows us a prickly, yet vulnerable older woman whom we gradually begin to like. Noyes give both sides in equal measure, playing off both the son, Boolie (Christopher Butturff), and her calm and collected driver, Hoke (William Holland). She has played this role before, and it is obvious she understands her character.
Butturff provides frustrated Boolie with the necessary early foil for Noyes. He is all over it, working well with both Holland, and Noyes. His humor and down home demeanor are just what are needed to balance the two who share his stage. Butturff brings incredible professionalism to every part he’s given.
Holland, brings exquisite timing, a depth of facial and physical carriage, to Hoke. The funny lines abound, but they must be delivered in the correct moment, and with the correct inflection. Tonight, he had the audience eating out of his hand. They hung on his every word. In addition to the other attributes mentioned, Hoke must have a serious side. There is a good bit of tension which must happen between Daisy and Hoke. Holland does his part to make this tension palpable and enjoyable.
It is interesting to note that WTG staged this show nearly twenty years ago, with the exact same cast. I can’t say for sure, but I’d be willing to bet that the interval has allowed the three cast members to mature considerably. It’s difficult for this writer to imagine better performances that long ago. Tonight was special.
There are two more performances to come. They are tomorrow, Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 (matinee performance 1:45 pm. My recommendation is to spend some time in Wapakoneta seeing “Driving Miss Daisy” with this talented trio. You do not want to wait another twenty years to see this fabulous show.