"Crimes Of The Heart" Now Showing At The James F. Dean Theatre--The Ups And Downs Of The MaGrath Sisters

Beth Henley's trio of the idiosyncratic MaGrath sisters guilty of Crimes of the Heart are now neurotically center stage at the James F. Dean Theatre in Summerville.

The play won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. The 1986 film adaptation was directed by Bruce Beresford. It garnered three Academy Award nominations and Beth Henley was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. In 1986, the play was novelized and released as a book, written by Claudia Reilly. Originally a three act play, the Flowertown Players rendering is done in two acts.

The MaGrath family sisters have suffered tragedy in their young lives. Their father left them and their mother hung herself and their cat, leaving an unresolved question as to why.

Lenny is the oldest of the three. She is a responsible soul who has taken on the task of caring for their Old Granddaddy in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, who is presently in the hospital with "all those blood vessels popping in his brain." She has just turned 30 and believes she has gotten old and is unwanted by any man, "But I have this underdeveloped ovary and I can't have children and my hair is falling out in the comb. So what man can love me?" On top of this, her whimsical younger sister Babe has shot her husband because she didn't like his looks and her 20 year old horse, Billy Boy, was struck by lightning. Making matters even more worse, nobody has remembered it is her birthday. So, she sticks a candle on top of a cookie, lights it, and sings happy birthday to herself. Well, not everyone has forgotten. Her cousin, Chick Boyle, brings her a box of chocolates and a few unwelcome, distasteful tidbits of opinions.

Summoned by Lenny, the second oldest sister, Meg, arrives in Hazelhurst from Los Angeles where her singing career had stalled resulting in her suffering a nervous breakdown. Even though Lenny summoned her, Meg's presence is an annoyance. There are some unresolved, deep-seated hard feelings between them. Lenny ponders "why should Old Grandmama let her sew twelve golden jingle bells on her petticoats and us only three?" Meg has never had a problem attracting men. Chick Boyle describes her as a "low-class tramp." She went to Los Angeles after Hurricane Camille where she left her boyfriend, Doc, who got his leg crushed during the hurricane because she insisted on riding out the storm instead of seeking shelter. He now walks with a limp, is married, and has two kids. And so, the story and stage are set.

Director Allison Brower did an excellent job casting her three main characters. Taylor Fleming (Lenny MaGrath), Jana Weber (Meg MaGrath), and Maddie Latham (Babe Botrelle) are as different as the MaGrath sisters. Taylor looked the part, dressed the part, and portrayed the subdued and doleful personality of Lenny in fine detail, to the point where you were sympathetic to her undeserving lot in life. Quite the opposite, Meg's irresponsible, I don't care what you think swagger was smartly rendered by Jana as she strutted her stuff about the stage. Rounding out the trio, Maddie was captivating as the flighty and impulsive Babe who was one step behind reality. Her confectionery disposition was as compelling as Babe's sugar craving. Maddie craftily made sweet lemonade of some of the plays more humorous dialogue despite its dark overtones. The scene where Babe recounts the incident of her offering lemonade to her husband after shooting him is comedically priceless.

What would a good dark comedy be without an antagonist to make matters worse. Alex Shanko as the gossipy Chick Boyle fit the bill very nicely. And with an attempted murder as part of the story, a good lawyer is needed, especially when the person who was shot is a lawyer also. But there is a little more going on with Barnette Lloyd (Daniel Rich) other than just handling Babe's case. Finishing out the cast was Anthony Parenti as the jilted Doc Porter.

There is no change of scenery in Crimes of the Heart. The whole play takes place in the nicely rendered kitchen of Old Granddaddy's home in Hazelhurst. There are moments where the dialogue moves a little slow, but possibly it was intended that way.

The Flowertown Players presentation of Crimes of the Heart accomplishes what Beth Henley intended. It will leave you wondering whether you should shed a tear in the three sisters behalf or laugh at the sheer madness of it all, and that is due to the plays capable crew and talented cast.

Purchase tickets for Crimes of the Heart.
March 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, 2019 at 8pm
March 10 and 17, 2019 at 3pm

Summerville's Latest Projects: A Renovated Hutchinson Square And Newly Constructed Ashley River Park

Summerville's new marketing campaign positions its coordinates geographically at the heart of everything in the Lowcountry. As of lately, it certainly has been the center of attention. On March 1st, the town inaugurated its newly completed Hutchinson Square Project with a ribbon cutting and celebratory party. The refreshed historic downtown area was packed with town representatives and residents. The crowning touch to the restoration features a pavilion with a roof line patterned after the old railroad station that once upon a time stood close by and a gateway reminiscent of earlier days in the town's honored history.

Next, the following day, the first ever Ashley River Adventure Race took place during which the new 85 acre recreation park located on the banks of the Ashley River at Bacon Bridge Road was previewed by the participants with a 5K trail run along with an 8.5-mile paddle downriver to the Inn of Middleton Place. Entrants from all across the Lowcountry and beyond were in attendance. The Howard Bridgman River Access was lined with kayaks and paddlebords of varying lengths and colors.

The racers either participated individually or as a relay team where one person ran and the other paddled. Those looking for a more leisurely river experience participated in the Family Fun Float. Instead of entering the river at Bacons Bridge, they started from Jessen Boat Landing and paddled 5 miles to the Inn of Middleton Place.

The weather turned out to be perfect for the event. The race started at 9:30 am with the run. The paddle down the river with the out going tide was a pleasurable experience as we navigated the twists and turns through the heavily wooded upper Ashley to the wide open marshes of the Plantation District. At the after party, food was served and awards were handed out while a band played in the background, all for the benefit of Friends of Dorchester County Parks.

The Howard Bridgman River Access at Bacons Bridge is part of the Ashley River Blue Trail--a 22 mile segment of the river running from Slands Bridge at Highway 17A to south of I-526 at Charles Towne Landing. The river trail contains 26 separate sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Middleton Place, Drayton Hall, and Runnymede. Along this 22 mile river corridor, the Ashley River Heritage Trail makes up approximately 5 1/2 river miles in the upper reaches of the Ashley, incorporating a number of shipwrecks and landings visible at low tide.


While kayaking the Ashley River's brackish waters, wildlife you may see along the way include deer and a spectacular variety of birds of prey, such as bald eagle, osprey, and the rare swallow-tailed kite. Long-legged wading birds like egrets and great blue herons hunt the wide-open downstream marshes where spot-tailed bass can be seen tailing on the edges of the tall grass. Endangered sturgeon can also be found making their way upstream to spawn along with striped bass and yes, the cunning alligator cruise these waters on warm, sunny evenings.


Dorchester County purchased the Ashley River sight off of Bacons Bridge Road in 2012 and since planned and constructed the amenity diverse park. Some of the amenities include a zip line, climbing wall, ropes course, playground, fire pit and event lawn with a stage. Some of the natural amenities include a rice field, 5.7 acre fishing pond, wetlands, perennial bed, and acre after acre of stunning views of the meandering Ashley River ecosystem observed from a boardwalk and 3,770 feet of winding trails.

Saturday, March 9, 9 am-1 pm, The Dorchester County Parks and Recreation Commission invites you to walk the trails and submit your ideas for improvements to the 85-acre wonderland. Don't miss this opportunity.

As the ever encroaching urban development along the Lowcountry's tidal rivers advances, it is vitally important to preserve as much of these diverse and beautiful ecosystems that we can. The new Ashley River Park accomplishes this esteemed goal both recreationally and environmentally.

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