Taylor University Lyric Theatre performed “The Spitfire Grill” in the Butz-Carruth Recital Hall Feb. 2 through Feb. 4.
The plot revolved around Percy Talbott, played by Junior Kharis Bland. It followed her as she counted down the years to leave jail and head to paradise, more humbly known as Gilead. She hoped to have a fresh start in the small town, but first she had to build trust with the folks of Gilead.
Percy’s arrival in Gilead set the small town in a whirl that began with apprehension but gave way to a familial bond. Friday through Sunday, the cast of “The Spitfire Grill” wove character growth in with tight harmonies and duets.
“I thought – and this does not always happen – but I thought it got progressively better with each night,” Loralee Songer, assistant professor of music, said. “I thought Sunday was the best. I just wish that we could have had about five more [performance nights].”
Songer directed the live music for “The Spitfire Grill.” She said she had never done this style of music for musical theater, but she enjoyed directing it. Conor Angell’s director’s note described it as “Appalachian bluegrass music.”
The music set the tone for the rural midwest where the characters lived. The unique style matched the characters and drew the audience into Gilead’s small-town ways.
“It was fun,” Junior Kate Mikels said. “The guitar guy had four different things he was playing. I enjoyed it.”
Most of the musical took place in Gilead’s only diner: The Spitfire Grill. Emma Reagan (‘22) designed the set, and senior James Eibel directed its assemblage.
Reds, greens and browns gave the diner a homey, rural feel. A bell hung on the front door, and its ring echoed throughout the Recital Hall as friends and neighbors of the story passed through.
The staff spent months crafting the diner, the surrounding trees and other details.
“It was definitely very rewarding to see all the actors actually use this thing I’ve been building since September,” Eibel said.
The Butz-Carruth Recital Hall had limited space compared to Mitchell Theater. Eibel’s team had to get creative to show the audience the different locations throughout the musical. A chair became a bus, a walk around the theater became a hike in the woods.
The tech people showed change and the passage of time using red, orange and yellow lights. They hit the trees imitating a beautiful sunrise while Percy Talbott stood to face the sun and sing, “Shine.”
“The natural world plays a large role in catalyzing rebirth: as Percy watches a sunrise, she encounters the God who made all of Nature, with the power to remake humans after they become broken,”Angell said in his director’s note. “Each character must struggle to learn to look for grace, both to give and receive it.”
The actors and actresses worked diligently to provide authenticity and genuine emotion to their characters. They spent months developing each moment and character arc.
Bland said she found many similarities between herself and Percy Talbott, including where they were born and their age. On a deeper level, Bland related to Percy’s history.
“It’s a story that is very familiar to me, and I wanted to do it justice with a character that I love, and so I’m over the moon that I got to do it,” Bland said.
Freshman Grace Bradshaw played Shelby Thorpe, Percy’s new-found friend. Bradshaw’s favorite part of the performance was when Shelby comforted her friend with the song “Wild Bird.”
“I was trying to see how I could portray God’s image, and I think a big part of that was being slow to speak and quick to listen, which I was able to do through that moment,” Bradshaw said.
The characters Percy and Shelby forged a friendship over the course of the musical. They found their own voices and were able to heal together.
Much like their characters, the cast of “The Spitfire Grill” grew together, forming new friendships.
“People see the end result (which is a wonderful end result, and I’m really happy with the end result) but it’s the details and the hours that we spend leading up to the end result – that’s where so many memories were made and growth happened,” Dr. Songer said.
