Written by Audrey Cefaly
Directed by: Edd Miller
Performance Dates:
April 9 – April 25, 2021
Run time: 2h 15m
(including intermission)
In small-town Alabama, there’s nothing worse than being the forty-something town widow — at least that’s how Lizzie feels since her husband died in an accident. Her days of avoiding returning to work, enjoying doing the laundry, and quietly reading on her back porch are interrupted by her new neighbor Jack, a widower, and his installation of a Maytag dryer on his back porch. A surprise discovery of a cache of love letters lead Jack and Lizzie to connect over grief, regret, and laundry. Through their bond they begin asking the questions of when to live again, and more importantly, when to love again.
About the Playwright
AUDREY CEFALY is a Dramatist Guild Traveling Master and a member of the Playwrights' Arena cohort at Arena Stage. Cefaly has developed plays with National New Play Network, Everyman Theatre, Signature Theatre, Vermont Stage, 16th Street Theater, Capital Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, About Face, Florida Rep, Kitchen Dog Theatre, Circle Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Aurora Theatre, Theater Alliance, Quotidian Theatre Company, Contemporary American Theater Festival, and University of Alabama at Birmingham. Plays include The Gulf (Edgerton, Lammy, Charles MacArthur Nominee), Alabaster (NNPN Record-Breaking RWP, Kilroys, Calicchio Prize), Maytag Virgin, Fin & Euba (produced by The Colonial Players), Tell Me Something Good, The Believers, and Love is a Blue Tick Hound. Cefaly considers herself a southern playwright focusing on character-driven stories set in her home state of Alabama. “I am actively exploring the unsung topographies and voices of the Gulf Coast region with a purposeful reverence for regional authentcity and texture. I believe that stories of healing are important. I gravitate toward characters who are lost, ‘stuck,’ and emotionally fatigued (a term I call ‘reckless apathy’). I want to tell every love story worth telling and my plays run the spectrum: collision, romance, betrayal, death, heartache and redemption.”
About the Director
After more than 50 years of working in many capacities at The Colonial Players, EDD MILLER can add another to his list of accomplishments as director of the first post-Covid production, ending the first time in 72 seasons when CP went dark for a lengthy period. As an actor he has performed in The Last of The Red Hot Lovers, Othello, Moon For The Misbegotten, and Over My Dead Body, to name just a few. You may have seen his set designs for The Diviners; Blithe Spirit; In The Next Room, or the Vibrator Play; Chapter Two; Coyote on a Fence; Two Rooms; Moon Over Buffalo; Going To St. Ives; and others. He most recently directed Good People five years ago. He also has directed The Apple Tree, Carnival, Plaza Suite, Going To St. Ives, Two Rooms, The Diviners, 6 Rms Rive Vu, I Never Sang For My Father, On Golden Pond, Relatively Speaking, Coyote on a Fence, and more. Edd also has lent his talents to many other venues as both actor or director. He credits theater in general and CP in particular for bringing him friends, chosen family, and his late wife, Dolores. He feels he has two homes in Annapolis: one for sleep and one for showing of. Edd's work has earned CP a Ruby Griffith Award, a One Act Play Award (state and regional festivals), Washington Area Theatre Community Honors awards for best play and best direction of a play, and numerous nominations.
Director's Notes
It’s been over a year since we mounted a show. It has been a privilege and an honor and a challenge as director of Maytag Virgin to shepherd bringing live theater out of hibernation and back to our stage. Many changes were necessary to adhere to the rules and regulations designed to protect your health as well as ours. We had to reimagine our performance space to comply with the requirement that no unmasked actor could be closer than 12 feet away from all members of the audience. The result is a much different experience visually for you and an adventure for our designers and technicians. The actors had to learn to perform on a raked stage while adjusting to patrons watching mostly in front of them instead of from all four sides. There were some advantages as well. With no other show in production or in rehearsals, we had extended time to work on details and make the necessary technical changes, including installing new equipment allowing us to stream some performances. All of this took place with seldom more than five people in the building at any given time. Theater is a collaborative art so “virtual” doesn’t cut it. We worked on different days in small groups. It took scheduling and cooperation. We hope you enjoy the results. We are grateful to welcome you back.
— EDD MILLER
The Cast
Ben Carr (Jack Key) – Ben is excited to be back performing at The Colonial Players. Some of his previous roles at CP include Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman, Mike Conner in The Philadelphia Story, Michael Wells in Two Rooms, C.C. Showers in The Diviners, and Hertel Dagget in Dog Logic. He has also performed at Standing O Productions in The Retreat from Moscow (Jamie) and Tracers (Little John) and at Dignity Players as Jake in Stones In His Pocket. He would like to thank Edd for casting him, Laura for carrying this show, and Herb for making sure everything goes smoothly. “Most importantly, I would like to tell my wife, Cassie, that I love you and ask, if it’s too late to send the kids back…I think they might be defective.” Hope all is well.
Laura Gayvert (Elizabeth "Lizzy" Nash) – Laura is truly flled with grattude to be one of the frst people to be able to be back in the theater and on stage in 2021, especially afer so much has been closed down for so long. She is so thankful to be cast by Edd Miller alongside Ben Carr in this masterpiece by Audrey Cefaly. “Lucky girl!” Previously, she has performed at CP in Trip to Bountful, Moon Over Buffalo, Wonder of the World, Rocket Man, Calendar Girls, Frozen (NOT the Disney musical), and most recently, Casa Valentna, the last two of which earned her nominatons for a Washington Area Theatre Community Honors award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. Other local credits include Crimes of the Heart and Sordid Lives at Dignity Players and Seven Year Itch at BCT. “Above all, I am thankful for the love and support of my husband, David, as well as family and friends who help me in ways big and small."
The Production Staff
Kaelynn Bedsworth (Sound Designer) This is Kaelynn’s 12th...season? with CP. She has volunteered both on the stage and of in a variety of roles, from actress to go-button pusher to steampunk wig maker to Looney Tunes sound effect specialist to smushed banana cleaner. You may have seen her grace the stage in The Secret Garden, Annie, 1776, several A Christmas Carols, Moonlight and Magnolias, and Little Women. Behind the scenes, she has produced, costume designed, sound designed, and scene painted for many shows over the past 12 years. Kaelynn sends a big shoutout to Dave Cooper for figuring out how to livestream and then relieving her fears with the sentence, "Nope, you don't need to do anything different." Kaelynn also sends her love to her husband, Wes, who shares this crazy theater world with her on a daily basis.
Wes Bedsworth (Livestream Technician) Wes has been volunteering at The Players since early 2007 when he was a sound technician for Moon Over Buffalo. Since then, he's gone on to sound design many other shows, lighting design one, program lights for a bunch, create an Arduino-controlled illuminated grand piano for another, and provide technical consultation on more shows than he can count. Wes currently serves as the Technical Director on the Production Team, recently collaborating with Assistant Operations Director David Cooper to upgrade our equipment to support livestreaming of our productions. He is also happy to continue to be able to serve as Operations Director on the Board, where his responsibilities vary from plumber to electrician to network administrator to HVAC technician to locksmith to general handyman, depending on what broke this THE STAFF (continued) time. To adapt our spaces for operating during a pandemic, Wes has worked with various volunteers and contractors to plan for, procure, and install various new safety and sanitation equipment. By day, Wes supports the US Navy working for Cardinal Engineering, a generous annual supporter of CP. Wes sends his love to his wife, Kaelynn; his parents; sister Susan; and soon-to-be brother-in-law Jon. Hugs to Abby.”
David Cooper (Livestream Technician) David has been involved with The Colonial Players for the past several seasons. He was last seen on stage in Book of Days. While The Players were navigating the Covid-19 disruption, he was involved behind the scenes and in front of the camera during streaming events and promotional activities. For Maytag Virgin, David helped to design, establish, and run the system used for livestreaming the show.
Herb Elkin (Stage Manager) Herb has been an active Colonial Players member and volunteer for 25 years. Having appeared onstage in several CP and other area productions, he now most enjoys stage managing and relishes his role in returning live theater to our stage. Recent CP credits include The Children (2020), Toward Zero (2019), Quartet (2018), 33 Variations (2017), Good People (2016), Side Man (2015), Rocket Man (2014), Coyote on a Fence (2014), Trying (2013), and Going to St. Ives (2012)...which received a regional WATCH award as outstanding play. He thanks CP's many volunteers and supporters who make everything possible, worthwhile...and enjoyable!
Heather Quinn (Producer) Heather has worked on numerous theater projects in the DC-Maryland area both onstage and behind the scenes over the years but never expected to be trying to produce a show in the time of Covid-19. “The job of producer is always easier when shared and when so many talented and dedicated community members step forward to take on the many behind-the-scenes tasks of any show. It has been odd striving to produce a show and develop theater safety procedures working both near (with masks and distance) and far (without masks but virtually). Nevertheless, it has been nice to be involved in the group effort, so I appreciate sharing in a small slice of community theater pie.
John H. Purnell III (Lighting Designer) “This experience is like an early winter thaw — while the winter of Covid-19 may not be over yet, Maytag Virgin is a glimpse of spring after more than a year without performing arts.” John began designing at Colonial Players in 1991. His lighting credits include 13 CP productions, most recently A New Brain (which was WATCH nominated), Quartet, and The Babylon Line. John has worked at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, Silver Spring Stage, Severn School, Hexagon, The Arlington Players, The Little Theatre of Alexandria, and others where he has lighting and special effects credits in over two dozen other shows. John has appeared on stage in four area productions, most recently at CP as Officer Welch in Rumors. John was cast as Mayor Josiah Dobbs in Bright Star at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre more than a year ago, but ASGT has canceled its 2021 season and he hopes it will be presented next year. The lighting for Maytag Virgin presents several challenges. First, the new thrust stage configuration demands extensive rework of CP’s standard light plot. Second, lighting for streaming video as well as an in-house audience substantially complicates the lighting design. Fortunately, we have a great group of volunteers who welcomed the challenge.
Constance Robinson (Properties Designer/Set Decorator) Since 2003 Connie has volunteered as a public relations consultant, graphic designer, box office assistant, properties designer, and set decorator for Colonial Players. She serves on the current Marketing Committee, and has collected props or decorated sets for over 24 productions at Colonial Players and other local theaters. She is proud to have received three WATCH nominations for properties designing. Connie enjoys her volunteer hours because of the friendly, dedicated people she works with. She also thanks her husband, John, for his continued assistance fixing or creating props. Connie is also grateful to friends for their support and loaning their household items for props. During the past year of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has missed being with the CP family but has enjoyed the virtual pub shows. She said it has been fun being “back in business” working with the creative director and set designer Edd Miller for this show. He was patent while Connie found or created props and dropped them of at the theater with her mask on. She sure misses being at rehearsals with everyone for Maytag Virgin! Connie sends a big “thank you” to Herb Elkin for keeping the props in order backstage!
Beth Terranova (Costume Designer) “My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to get the doors to The Colonial Players open again. Special thanks to the cast and staff of Maytag Virgin, who have worked through these pandemic challenges so we can welcome audiences back to our theater.” Beth has been designing costumes for community theaters for over 25 years. On The Colonial Players stage her previous costume designs were seen in A Christmas Carol (2018), Nine (WATCH nomination), A Few Good Men, These Shining Lives, Coyote on a Fence, Going to St. Ives (WATCH nomination), Cinderella Waltz (WATCH nomination), Lettice and Lovage, The Diviners, The Lion in Winter, The Philadelphia Story, Hauptmann, and Moon Over Buffalo. Most recently, she designed costumes for the 2nd Star Production of Gypsy. Other costume design credits from years of theater in Florida include The Importance of Being Ernest, Beau Jest, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Call Me Madam, and Gypsy (yes, she has had the “joy” of costuming this show twice!). Beth was most recently on stage at Colonial Players as Williamina Fleming in Silent Sky. Work behind the scenes includes director, producer, set designer, play consultant, and tech crew. Happily retired, these days you might catch Beth in colonial garb leading historic and ghost tours around Annapolis…when she isn’t doing “things” for the theater.
