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7/23/09
You’re in the army now! That is how you will feel when you come to see “Biloxi Blues” at the Clinton Area Showboat Theater under the direction of Jalayne Riewerts
From the first “Ten Hut” of Sergeant Merwin J. Toomey by Rob Engelson, you will be brought back to Boot Camp at Biloxi Mississippi in 1943 and World War II. This is the
Story of a naive draftee Eugene M. Jerome played by Drew Simendinger. Eugene wants to be a writer and is keeping a journal of his everyday observances.
All of you guys who have ever been in Boot Camp will be able to identify with these scenes. Memories may be painful or humorous as you look back on it.
The new draftees are all in the same barracks and from all different backgrounds. You have Polish, Jewish and other ethnic heritages.
They start out with the never ending push-ups. Then a midnight 15 mile hike. Anything to try to break the recruit’s spirit. They play a game of if you had only 7 days to live, what would your dream for those last days be?
Eugene is led through many 1st time experiences as he learns to be a man. His bunk mates are Joseph Wykowski by Alex Fenzel; Arnold Epstein by Joshua Sohn, Donald J. Carney by Dale Hawes; Roy W. Selridge by Nick Divarko, and James J. Hennesey by Kris
Doss. The female interests are Rowena by Kate Hennies (lady of the night) and Daisy Hannigan by Claire Barnhart (Eugene’s first love).
This production has military language, which all veterans will be familiar with and adult situations.
Biloxi Blues is playing through Aug. 2nd on the Clinton Area Showboat Theater stage.
This has been Ellen Ketelsen for K R O S.
