By Wayne Laepple
WEST MILTON — A high point of the summer season at Central Oak Heights has been performances by the Theater in a Truck Players, and this year should be no different. This year’s performances are special, helping Central Oak Heights celebrate its centenary.
Judy Hoover, the sparkplug of Theater in a Truck since its inception, has selected four vignettes for this year’s shows, including two from “Plaza Suite” by Neil Simon, one from “Lovers and Other Strangers” by Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor, and one from “You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running” by Robert Anderson.
Hoover recalled that vignettes from “Plaza Suite” comprised the first performance at Central Oak Heights by the group.
“I think this is our eighth year,” said Hoover. She said the name of the group dates back to its first performance in the tabernacle at Central Oak Heights, when every prop and bit of scenery had to be brought to the building from various storage locations in Lewisburg.
In spite of the tabernacle’s open sides, occasional interruptions by passing trains, traffic on nearby Route 15, thunderstorms and birds flying through, Hoover said the group enjoys performing there.
“This is a treat,” she said. “We’re used to church basements, where you have no concept of where your audience is. We often don’t get on the stage until a few nights before the show, and here we can rehearse all the time.”
Hoover said she can walk about, listening to dialogue to make sure it’s loud enough, and she can watch the actors from different angles to make sure the blocking works.
Theater in a Truck is a fluid group, with actors from several area amateur theater groups taking part. Terry Brouse, a veteran presence on area stages, is in three of the four scenes.
“I play three very different characters,” she said. “You have to carry yourself differently in each scene, and that’s a challenge.”
Dan Brehm, another veteran actor, is also co-directing with Hoover. He admits as he’s gotten older he enjoys directing, but “I’ve never lost my ambition to perform. I guess it’s in my blood.”
“I guess you could say I’m a jack of all trades,” he said.
Amy Solomon, on the other hand, hasn’t been on stage before.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m having fun so far.”
Her greatest challenge, she said, is learning lines and where she’s supposed to be in her scene.
In addition to Brouse, Brehm and Solomon, Bob Taylor, Howard Rossler and Sally Lauer will be in the show.
The performances will be on July 9-11 at 7 p.m. and are free. Central Oak Heights is just off Route 15, just south of the Milton-West Milton exit. Coming from the south, visitors must exit Route 15 north at West Milton, swing through town and head south on Route 15 again. The turnoff to the grove is just a few hundred feet south of the on-ramp.
This year’s performance helps Central Oak Heights celebrate its 100th anniversary.
