Murphys, CA… Behind the innocent sounding title is a mighty comedy-drama that won both the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Academy Award for Best Picture. Not a bad track record. Now “Driving Miss Daisy” brings its considerable charms to Murphys Creek Theatre, running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays April 27 through May 20.
Called “a total delight” by the New York Daily News, “Driving Miss Daisy” is the touching tale of Daisy Werthan and her African-American chauffeur Hoke Colburn. After demolishing yet another car, Daisy’s son Boolie hires Hoke to drive his elderly mother. The story is simple but its ramifications are universal. The play, with its gentle humor and practical wisdom, inspires in us some things that we forget in this age of 24 hour news cycles and corrosive social media. That acceptance, honor, dignity and respect are things that truly matter.

The place is the Deep South, the time 1948, just prior to the civil rights movement. Miss Daisy immediately regards Hoke with disdain and he, in turn, is not impressed with his employer’s patronizing tone and, he believes, her latent prejudice. But, in a series of absorbing scenes spanning twenty-five years, the two, despite their mutual differences, grow ever closer to, and more dependent on, each other, until, eventually, they become almost a couple. They both come to realize they have more in common than they ever believed possible—and that times and circumstances would ever allow them to publicly admit.

Written by Alfred Urhy, the Murphys Creek production is in lofty company. The 1989 movie version starred Jessica Tandy as Daisy, Morgan Freeman as Hoke and Dan Aykroyd as Boolie. It won four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Actress for Tandy. Freeman earned a Best Actor nomination and Aykroyd a Best Supporting Actor nomination. A recent Broadway revival featured Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones.

Director Maryann Curmi is well known to theatergoers throughout the region as both an actor and director. She recently directed the highly successful “Over the River and through the Woods” at Murphys Creek where she also helmed “Accomplice” “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” and “Talley’s Folly”. She has also delighted audiences onstage with a lengthy list of credits at Stage 3, Sierra Repertory Theater and Columbia Actors Rep.

Curmi says, “What’s not to love about directing Driving Miss Daisy? This a moving story about friendship that is sweet, sentimental, at times feisty and altogether poignant. Alfred Uhry has given us a gift. A play that delivers such a powerful message of hope that’s just as relevant now as the time it depicts is remarkable. Speaking of gifts…I count my blessings everyday knowing the abilities of this cast and I am humbled to be directing this show. Audiences will be in for a special treat from beginning to the end.”

The title role is played by Susan Michael. She brings a lifetime of experience to her Murphys Creek Theatre debut. Her favorite role locally was as the fiery Violet in Stage 3’s groundbreaking smash “August: Osage County”. Other notable appearances include leading roles in “Nuts”, “Stepping Out”, “Guys and Dolls”, “Steel Magnolias”, “Hamlet” and “Superior Donuts”.

Dwight Mahabir will play the chauffeur Hoke Coleburn. Mahabir is coming off his great success in the one man show “Looking Over The President’s Shoulder” at MCT. Mahabir’s resume is truly impressive. Among his leading roles are Billy Flynn in “Chicago”, Don Quixote/Cervantes in “Man of La Mancha” The King of Siam in ‘The King and I, Coalhouse Walker in “Ragtime” and George in “Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?” Dwight feels honored to have been cast as Hoke, a man he feels is able to maneuver through aggression with playful honesty while always keeping his integrity and dignity intact. Dwight remarks “I enjoy using the simple vernacular of the old black folk from the south. They made the language their own. It’s beautiful!”

Mike Moon takes the role of Boolie, Daisy’s son. Moon has a list of credits longer than most people’s arms. He has been seen as Jerry/Daphne in “Sugar”, Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady” and, locally in “November”, “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “The Diviners”.

Set design for ‘Daisy’ will be by Micki Dambacher, Costume Design by Linda Glick, Lighting Design by Tommy Johnson, Cortney Gillaspie will stage manage and be assisted by Gracie Graham.

“Driving Miss Daisy” will run at Murphys Creek Theatre, 580 So. Algiers Street Murphys, CA from April 27 through May 20, 2018. Friday & Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 2 pm. Ticket range $12.00 – $24.00. Tickets can be purchased online at www.murphyscreektheatre.org or reserved by calling 209-728-8422.