BY LARRY SMITH
DANVILLE — One of the largest casts in Red Mask Players’ long history is spending hours in rehearsal, preparing “Tom Jones.”
No, not Welsh singer Tom Jones — rather, the 1700s English Tom Jones, a foundling who grows into a handsome young man.
Jim Wolfe, a stage veteran of dozens of Red Mask and Danville Light Opera productions, takes on directing duties for the first time for “Tom Jones.” Gail Garner serves as the play’s producer.
“It’s a period piece,” Wolfe said during a break in rehearsal last week. “He has to deal with class issues.”
As serious as that might sound, cast members say the play is often funny.
“It’s fast paced and hilarious,” said Gracie Oliver, who has the lead female role of Sophia. “I just don’t have any of the funny lines.”
Oliver, who graduated from Danville High School in May, is in her first Red Mask production, although she participated in school plays. She described her character as romantic, but a bit flighty.
“She wants to be an adult, but she still throws huge tantrums sometimes,” Oliver said. “That’s hard for me because I’ve always been more of a comic actress.”
Sophia and Tom Jones fall in love, but because of class differences their romance is forbidden. Jones takes off for London, with Sophia and several others — including her father as portrayed by Jeff Romig — leaving a trail of laughs along the way.
“I love being on stage very much,” Oliver said. “There’s this adrenalin rush I get from being in front of people. …
“There’s just something about pleasing an audience in a production that is amazing.”
Oliver’s counterpart in the play is Kenneth Cooper, who takes on the title role. Cooper also has experience in front of the foot-lights, but this is his largest assignment so far.
“The lines are harder to memorize because there are lots of them,” he said during rehearsal last week. “You have to stay alert for the cues. But the hardest part is not laughing as the others act around you.”
Cooper said his character is somewhat naïve and doesn’t realize the romantic intentions of some of the women he encounters.
“He goes through misfortune after misfortune,” Cooper said.
Cooper said the large group of actors works well together.
“It’s an ensemble cast,” he said, “you can’t have one without the other.”
One actor who is new to Red Mask but not to “Tom Jones” is Shawn Vaughn of Catlin, who plays the role of Partridge. His character serves as the play’s narrator and often speaks directly to the audience.
Vaughn played the role of Tom Jones while in high school under Wolfe’s direction. It’s his first venture onto the stage in about 15 years.
“The crowd reaction gets me going,” he said. “We really have fun with it.”
IF YOU GO
The Red Mask Players will present “Tom Jones” for the next three weekends. The show begins at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults; $12 for seniors age 60 and older; and $10 for students. For information, call the Red Mask box office at 442-5858.
