Live Arts Puts on “Violet”
As venues in Charlottesville continue to reopen and return to regular show schedules, the ever-present chorus of Charlottesville’s theater community can be heard. Live Arts has continued a regular slot of shows this winter season. The musical Violet has been running since Nov. 18 and after a Thanksgiving Break, will be returning to the Gibson Theater at Live Arts on Nov. 30 and will run until Dec. 10. Once performances recommence, the shows will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
The show is based on the short story “The Ugly Pilgrim”, by Doris Belts. The musical chronicles the story of a young woman who suffers a facial disfiguration and her journey from North Carolina to Oklahoma. She sets out in hopes of meeting a televangelist preacher who she hopes can cure her disfigurement. Along the way she meets an African American soldier who has his own identity as an outsider to deal with. The story is set in 1964 and grapples with themes of personal identity, body image, race relations, and the journey of the self in its southern setting. The plot also integrates the topic of religious marketing within America’s southern states. The musical employs a multitude of different styles including bluegrass, gospel, and blues. The cast will be accompanied by a live band, to achieve this multifaceted piece of musical Americana.
A primary component in the publicity of the show has been the presence of the live band which includes a variety of classic instrumental string accompaniments and percussion. Similar to shows previously performed at the Gibson such as Xanadu, the theater’s diminutive size has been reported to be the best for the high energy and beat-heavy rhythms that a show like Violet offers. The black box theater style makes for a max occupancy of around 150. At this time it is uncertain if seating arrangements will change when the show begins again for the holiday season.
The main cast includes Mary Catherine Hughes as the title character, Violet, Thad Lane as Flick, Daniel, Hugus as Monty, and Bernadette Moran as Young VI. Perry Medlin directs and choreographs, making this his second directorial piece this year since The Legend Of George Mcbride, earlier in March. This piece will be the first musical Medlin will have directed thus far at Live Arts. Mandy Shuker and Carter Walker act as stage manager and assistant stage manager respectively.
Violet will be on again on Dec. 11 for its Christmas season run. Tickets will range from 28 to 33 dollars. The show is small in physical scale but maintains a regular runtime of 2 hours with a 20 minute intermission. The show is a melting pot of various live musical styles tied together by a central story of pathos and universal struggles of the self .
