Last week I had the privilege of watching Bright Star presented by The Southwest Playhouse in Clinton. With music and story by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star is a story of hope, love, and family set in the early 1900s. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Bright Star features the journey of Alice Murphy, a literary editor, and Billy Cane, a young soldier turned aspiring writer. Their lives are explored alongside a bluegrass score played in house by a live band. This production was brought to life by volunteers from in and around the area. There was an obvious sense of compassion and care by every performer in this show.
Alice, played by Blair Barnett Green, leads this story as we explore different stages of her life. Her vocal performance was amazing and helped drive the show forward with emotion and compassion that made me as a viewer intrigued to see what would happen next. This emotional depth provided by Green was a driving force for this show. Opposite Green, Whitten Eustace delivered an unforgettable and energetic performance as Billy. His chemistry with Green only improved without the show and gave me something to look forward to every time they were onstage together. His singing and dancing brought a strong stage presence to every scene he was in. Wesley Jarovsky was an immediate stand out in this show. His charisma could be felt throughout every scene as we followed him through his life post World War II. Jarovsky’s confidence and charisma made him a joy to watch every time he reentered the show. Lastly, the comedic duo of Daryl and Lucy, played by Ryder Adams and Charissa Berrong, added a sense of charm and comedy to this show. Anytime they were onstage together I knew that I’d find myself laughing in no time. Their chemistry onstage provided the audience with some of the most enjoyable and heartwarming moments of the night.
The live band paired well alongside the vocal performances of the cast. They were able to give this show an even more heartwarming energy as I found myself tapping my foot to various songs throughout the show. These musicians were able to match the vocal stylings of every actor and create a rich and enjoyable show for all ages.
Made possible by volunteers of all ages, the Southwest Playhouse was able to put on a joyful and charming show. Bright Star is showing from September 19th-21st at the Southwest Playhouse in Clinton!
