- April 23, 2024
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“Dixie Swim Club” tells the story of five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team. They set aside a long weekend every August, free from husbands, kids and jobs to recharge those relationships at the same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
“The comedy is grounded in real friendship and real emotion,” said Lorraine Portman, who is directing the March production of the show at the Flagler Playhouse, in Bunnell. “Comedy can be a way of learning about life and friendship and aging, and this play talks about that with such humor — so we get a sense of where we’re all heading, all while laughing about it.”
But beyond that, Portman said what makes this production in particular special is that it is female dominated. While it’s not unusual that a play centered around female relationships has an all-female cast, what is unusual is that the direction and technical aspects of the show are also all being done by women.
“I think there is something about women when they get together that they do behave differently without men being around,” said Pat Love, president of the Flagler Playhouse. “When you get talented, intelligent women who are really interested in the work, it really does take on a different appearance — it becomes deeper, less superficial. I think it’s just very freeing for women to work with other women and be respected by other women. Especially in theater. I hope I’m not being to antiquated in that view, but things haven’t changed as much as we think.”
There are also interesting connections weaved into the group of women working on this project. Portman and cast member Liz Gallagher were both in a production of “Talking With” many years ago at the Limelight Theater in St. Augustine and are both graduates of Smith College, an all-woman’s college in Massachusetts.
Portman and cast member Sally McGhee are both faculty at Flagler College and lighting designer Shanna Greer is a Flagler College graduate, who took Portman’s class.
“Tech, it’s male dominated — lighting and set design and building — where you get your hands dirty, so it’s terrific to have Shanna with us,” Portman said. “She has this wonderful sensibility and a way of communicating. In community theater, they don’t have what Broadway has, but what she does with what she has available is fantastic.”
The cast is rounded out by Nancy Howell, who is also the costume designer at the Flagler Playhouse, Michele O’Neil, president elect at the Playhouse, and Robin Davis.
IF YOU GO
What: “Dixie Swim Club”
Where: Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell
When: 7:30 p.m. March 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20 and 21; and 2 p.m. March 8, 15 and 22
Tickets: $20 adults/$15 students; visit flaglerplayhouse.com or call 586-0773.
