By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
The Richmond Hill Players continue their 2024 season with the comedy-drama “84 Charing Cross Road,” adapted by James Roose-Evans from the book by Helene Hanff. The show will be presented Thursdays through Sundays, July 11-21, at the Barn Theatre in Geneseo.
Jennifer Kingry, Geneseo, directs the show.
ABOUT THE PLAY
A tale of transatlantic friendship, “84 Charing Cross Road” is based on the true story of the remarkable relationship that developed between a brassy American writer and a gentlemanly English bookseller. Just after WW11, English books were not only difficult to find in the States, they were prohibitively expensive, especially for a struggling female playwright living in New York City. A magazine ad prompted her first letter, an endearingly-blunt request with a five-dollar bill enclosed.
The friendship that bloomed almost instantly between Miss Helene Hanff in her NYC brownstone and Mr. Frank Doel in his London second-hand bookshop came to include his fellow bookstore employees. If her effusive camaraderie disarmed the Brits, their graciousness begat a family-like devotion in her own heart. For 20 years, letters and books flew back and forth across The Pond, as a moving account of friendship and kindness unfolded. The world today has little time for such things – in an age of texts, tweets, and TikTok, how rare is the quiet thrill of receiving handwritten personal letter?
The cast features Jackie Skiles, Susan Hopton, Jackie Patterson, John Simosky and Rolan Swanson, all of Geneseo; Mischa Hooker, Rock Island; Elissa Dynes, Kewanee; Mime Sweetser, Lyndon; and Jim Strauss, Davenport.
The staff includes stage manager Terri Nelson, Lynn Center; costumer Suzanne Rakestraw, crew person Janet VanDerSchaaf, light and sound designer/operator Jennifer Kingry, set builder Mike Skiles, all of Geneseo; set builder Jim Driscoll, Davenport; and set builder Jim Skiles, Colona.
Jackie Skiles and Jackie Patterson are among the cast members of the July production of the Richmond Hill Players.
On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are 3 p.m. matinees with the doors opening at 2 p.m.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling the Richmond Hill box office at 309-944-2244 or by visiting the website at rhplayers.com.
Late seating is not permitted; no one will be admitted to the theater after the show has started.
Admission to all performances is $12.
An audio description performance will be held Friday, July 12. Richmond Hill also offers Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), which can be requested at the time reservations are made.