"Hands On A Hardbody" Now Showing--A Sizzling 100 Degrees Of Pure Musical Pleasure

Though the title seductively insinuates the idea, the play is not a musical about famous body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger or the world's top fitness model Michelle Lewin. The implication is furthest from the truth. Hands on a Hardbody is about 10 ordinary people looking for a break in life and the hardbody is a brand new red pick-up truck. It is now playing out at the James F. Dean Theatre in Summerville.

The musical play adaptation by Doug Wright was inspired by a true event lived out in a 1977 documentary by S.R. Bindler with lyrics by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green. The affair took place in the 1990's at a dealership located in Longview, Texas. Though I disagree with Doug Wright's implication the Darwinian concept of survival of the fittest is a determining truth in life's plan for humans, being fortunate with a high dose of resoluteness have a far greater influence on the path we tread. It was true of the contestants who lived out the self inflicted competition, and the winner was anything but physically, emotionally, and mentally the fittest.

Hands on a Hardbody is an exploration into the lives of a cross section of Texans loaded down with despair and riddled with the human blight of race, class, and income inequality, but at the same time lifted up by the flickering light of hope. To stand by a truck on hot asphalt in 100 degree weather wearing cotton gloves, in my calculations, would require a profound need or something to prove. And as the hours whittle by, it becomes painfully clear each contestant has their own story to tell and a burning need to tell it. Let the contest begin.

As Taryn Wetherington (Cindy Barnes), Rusty Cooler (Mike Ferris), and Daniel Rich (Frank Nugent) one by one strolled out from behind the black curtain to the front of the stage and harmoniously delivered the opening number, I anticipated we were hands down in for a entertaining night, and it was just the beginning.

Musical Director and Choreographer David McLaughlin, as usual, met all expectations. The constantly spinning truck--which would be no simple task to maneuver while singing and dancing--was masterful and the piece "Joy of the Lord" was mind blowing as Alex Shanko (Norma Valverde) accompanied by the rest of the cast joyously sang and drummed out the gospel rhythms on the steel body of the little red truck.

Melanie Morton and Gary Hubbel played the wife and husband team of happy rednecks with kids at home, Janis Curtis and Don Curtis. Melanie, with blackened teeth and a strong redneck drawl, was delightfully humorous as the outspoken Janis who claimed "It's a Fix." She was the contestant with a conscience. Michael Locklair and Dianne Corbin played the other husband and wife team of JD Drew and Virginia Drew. As the recently injured and out of work JD, who didn't like to be coddled, Michael was steady throughout the play and I enjoyed his rendition of "Used to Be" as he teamed up with Alex Shanko and play standout Matthew Walker. Dianne shined with heartfelt, spot-on vocals in "Alone With Me" as Virginia pleaded "I wish I knew what I could do to make myself enough for you. The way that you're enough for me."

Elissa Horrell as the naughty Heather Stovall had the look of Daisy Dukes and moved like J. Lo in "Burn That Bridge." There was a little something going on between her and Mike Ferris, the dealership owner. With fire and passion, Carlos Nieto played Jesus Pena. Insinuated to be an illegal immigrant, he was actually born in Laredo and deeply loved his dog.

Kelli Mangrum and Greg Wilhote are nicely played by Jana Weber and Zach Rettig. These two contestants develop a romantic tie over the span of the contest and when one of them drops out, the other must make a crucial decision. Malcolm Powell plays the contestant who eats too many candy bars, Ronald McCowen. With bluesy vocals, Malcolm soulfully sang "My Problem Right There."

Last but not least, two of the plays highly stirring pieces were performed by Jon Quarles as a traumatized war veteran, Chris Alvaro, and Matthew Walker as the antagonistic and disliked Benny Perkins, a man who is haunted by a deep, dark secret involving his son. The two of them filled the theater with high octane emotion in their separate renditions of "Stronger" and "God answered My Prayers."

Director Larry Spinner and Assistant Director Chrissy Eliason have done themselves proud. The passion Larry has poured into this play is evident from beginning to end. The musical is packed with a highly capable crew from set design accented by a complicated light show to costumes and sound with recognition going to Nicole Coke as she tirelessly worked behind the scenes as Stage Manager.

I will give Hands on a Hardbody a rating just shy of five stars due to the occasional annoying crackling mike, but with that being said, sometimes technology can go haywire and end up doing its own thing.

Hands on a Hardbody is a sizzling 100 degrees of pure musical pleasure and thought provoking dialogue. You will be entertained. You will be moved. You will want to put your hands on a ticket and join the contest.

Purchase tickets here
May 24, 25, 30, 31, June 1, 6, 7, and 8, 2019 at 3pm May 26, June 2 and 9, 2019 at 3pm

National Geographic Open Explorer South Carolina Waters Expedition #4--Congaree State Park And Synchronous Fireflies

Nestled between the Congaree and Wateree Rivers is a cherished and protected piece of Palmetto State landscape consisting of 27,000 acres called the Congaree National Park. Over 20,000 acres of the floodplain park is federally designated wilderness. Thanks to the efforts of Harry Hampton and a grass-roots campaign, this tract of land survived the voracious appetite of the lumber industry that swept through the Santee River area.

Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. It has the distinction of having one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies remaining in the world and has been crowned the Home of the Champions, also known as the "Redwoods of the East." Boasting the tallest known specimens of 15 species, it is home to the second tallest tree in the East, a loblolly pine standing at 167 feet and the second-tallest common baldcypress reaching a height of 141 feet.

Rightly noted for its tall trees, it is also a very special place for two and a half weeks come the springtime and the natural event that occurs only happens in a few other locations around the country.

While most people will be looking to the heavens to enjoy a nightly lightshow, visitors to Congaree National Park will be looking to the underbrush of the wetlands tall tree canopy for a spectacular nightly lightshow. In the later half of May to early June every year, a special kind of firefly performs an intricate and mesmerizing serenade all for the purpose of finding a mate to ensure their species returns year after year to repeat the phenomenon. The male fireflies of this particular species synchronize their flashing to entice the females in this unusual mating dance.

There are over 125 different fireflies present in North America, and over 2,000 worldwide. I always called them lightning bugs, which is actually a little closer to the truth, designating them as a bug, because they are not flies, but are a type of beetle. There are several species in Congaree National Park, but only one of them is synchronous. It is the species called Photuris frontalis. Mature forests and wet bottomlands are their preferred habitat and the bluff near the park visitor center is their ideal hang out.

Rick Olson and I arrived a day before our team leader, Dave Eslinger. We checked into the park's accommodating Harry Hampton Visitor Center to gather some information and maps, after which we headed out to set up camp in the parks remote campground called the Bluff. It was a mile trek from the Long Leaf campsite.

On the way, we came across a section of the forest where the trees had burn marks on their bark two feet up from the ground. Every once in awhile the park management do controlled burns. There were no facilities or running water at the campsite. It's called roughing it. On the plus side, the Mosquito Meter was at mild. We tested out our survivor skills by making a fire from the hundreds of discarded pine cones and branches strewn across the pine-needled ground, cooked hamburgers, and planned out our next day's activities, which would start with a paddle on one of the park's waterways. We saw fireflies here, but it wasn't the species we came to observe. The terrain was not ideal.

After enjoying a breakfast, we headed to the kayak launch. The marked Cedar Creek Canoe Trail winds approximately 15 miles through the Congaree Wilderness and passes through a primeval old-growth forest of elms, hickories, pines, maples, oaks, common baldcypress and swamp tupelo. The paddle was relaxing and picturesque, but we did not see any of the park's resident wildlife--river otter, deer, turtles, wading birds, and the occasional visiting alligator--except for one snake and the occasional splashing fish.

After the paddle, Dave Eslinger arrived and the expedition team walked the 2.4 mile Boardwalk Loop Trail--an elevated wooden walkway. The boardwalk offered an opportunity to view the different habitats found throughout the park with descriptions and explanations provided on a self guided printed pamphlet. The first half was a low boardwalk leading to Weston Lake-an oxbow lake where we observed turtles bobbing up and down in its murky waters and a large alligator gar cruising just below its top waters. The second half was an elevated boardwalk traversing swampier terrain. Dave got some stunning photos of the wildlife encountered on the walk, which will be posted separately on the South Carolina Waters Expedition site.

After the boardwalk, the main objective of our expedition was now the focus--to view and document the firefly phenomenon. A designated Fireflies Trail was marked along the bluff line, which gave access to prime viewing areas. The fireflies began their enchanting lightshow near sunset and continued until full darkness blanketed the bluff. Adding to the mystical display, the light from the full moon showered down on the thick upper forest canopy casting a white glow along the fringes of their leaves.

Twelve Old And New Summerville Landmarks You Will Want To Visit And Photograph

Summerville has a highly celebrated historical landscape with plenty to offer the discerning amateur photographer looking for that cherished photo memento. As you stroll the downtown area, surviving remnants from the town’s past are there for you to discover and capture with the click of your camera. Do not hesitate, quick as the shutter blinks, the scene of Summerville is changing, as it has, and as it will. That is the nature of things. Freeze-framing the moments is imperative.

Just imagine, if you dare, even the long-standing Angel Oak will eventually succumb to the powers to be. It will be a sad day when that happens, but for those who have preserved their visit to the oldest living thing east of the Rockies with a photo, remembering its place in time will be just a snapshot away. What will take its place as a popular landmark, only time will tell.

Thick groves of tall pines and old oaks richly grace Summerville. Their cooling touch and healing scent enticed early plantation owners to take up residence on its sandy hills. From those very same trees, they constructed their simple homes. The community grew and declared the trees sacred.

In time, some of the trees bowed to the Pine Forest Inn, and an era of prosperity ushered in. Of the trees still around today, longtime residents nurture fond memories and tell stories of playing below their broad branches. However, people no longer come to Summerville for the health benefits the pines once offered. They come for the charm, for the hospitality, and history.

Eventually, each pine in its time will succumb to the powers to be, as did the majestic Pine Forest Inn and Summerville’s famous railroad station. The scene of Summerville is changing. Like the first settlers and early town planners, may we seize the opportune moments presented to us and take Summerville into another era of prosperity as we commemorate its past.

I have picked twelve old and new places in and around Summerville’s rich-in-history landscape that have become my favorite framed souvenirs. I offer this list suggesting places you may want to check out and photograph on your next visit.

1) Recently, Summerville made a huge step forward in taking the town into the next era of prosperity--the renovation of Hutchinson Square. Inspired by images from its celebrated past, the square was beautifully transformed into a community space for people to gather and soak in the downtown atmosphere. A walkway splitting the square in half with a fountain in the middle, a pavilion with a roofline patterned after the old railroad station, and a nostalgic Summerville archway are all reminiscent of early town history. As visitors cross the railroad tracks into the downtown area, there is no mistaking their arrival to South Carolina's Flower Town in the Pines. If you are at the Square first thing in the morning, stop in Eva's on Main for a breakfast of down home fixings. It has been at that location since 1952. After, check out the James F. Dean Theatre two doors south. Built in the 1930's, it was home to Summerville's movie theater called "The Show." In 1976, it was taken over by a group of actors named Flowertown Players and since, the community theater has been filled with the sound of applause.

2) Old Town Hall stands on Summerville’s oldest avenue. Today’s West Carolina Avenue was called the Great Thoroughfare in the earliest days of what began simply as a summer retreat. It ran through the heart of the old village. The old building at 201 served as the newly formed village’s town hall between 1860 and 1892. The city center was moved and replaced by a new town hall located at the end of what became the town’s square. After serving the town, it became a school, a polling place, a community center, a tearoom, and a residence. Badly damaged by Hurricane Hugo, it was purchased and restored by the Summerville Preservation Society and became their headquarters and archives. A jail and market place once stood on the site.

3) Colonial Dorchester State Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. From 1697 until the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the Town of Dorchester flourished along the Ashley River, inland from colonial Charleston. Abandoned at the start of the Revolutionary War, it has disappeared, leaving only the remains of a brick bell tower from St. George’s Anglican Church, the foundation outline of a colonial home, and a fort made of an oyster-shell concrete called tabby...More pictures.

4) Julia Drayton Hastie, the heir to Magnolia Plantation on the Ashley, had the house built that became the Linwood Bed and Breakfast on a two-acre Summerville site in 1883. Ancient camellias, azaleas, majestic magnolias, and stately palms dominate the property's landscape. Elevated porches offer a panoramic view of the lush, more formal gardens. It has served as a bed and breakfast for over 13 years, officially opening in 1995 with elegant guest rooms, private baths, secluded sitting areas, a large swimming pool, and wide porches. There are three cottages available: The Guest House, The Bungalow, and The Hay Barn...More pictures.

5) Dr. Henry C. Guerin founded Guerin’s Pharmacy in 1871 after buying out Schwettman Drugstore and moving the business to South Main Street and West Richardson Avenue. The Dunnings later acquired the pharmacy in 1975. When they were remodeling the interior, they discovered a chalked message scrawled on a wall by Joe Guerin in an upstairs office. The message documented the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912. It is the oldest operating pharmacy in South Carolina. Today, you can order an ice cream float, milkshake, hot dog, or lemonade from its fountain.

6) The Peake Family built White Gables somewhere between the 1830s and early 1850s at the corner of West Richardson and Palmetto Street. In the early 1900s, Sara Woodruff developed a fondness for the almost 65-year-old house. What happened next gave birth to her distinguished story. Both fascinating and amusing, it is a story unlike any other in Summerville history, a story of restoration.

7) Middleton Place on the Ashley was settled in the late 17th century, with its main family residence constructed in 1705. The estate encompasses America’s oldest landscaped gardens designated “the most important and most interesting garden in America.” Henry Middleton started the Gardens in 1741. In 1952, Middleton Place began welcoming visitors to its gardens year-round. In the spring, from April to May, you can enjoy the gardens and sample old and new world wines at its Wine Strolls every Wednesday... Wine Stroll...More pictures.

8) Arriving and departing guests of the Pine Forest Inn passed through decorative columns for forty years, beginning in 1891. The inn was world renown and visited by many celebrities. It was a showcase among Southern inns. Advertisements for the inn announced it to be “situated on the outskirts of one of the prettiest villages in the Southland.” The columns are the only remaining remnants of the inn. You can view the columns at the crossroads of Linwood Lane and Salisbury Drive...A Visit To The Illustrious Pine Forest Inn Of Summerville--Somewhere In Time

9) When in town for a visit, be sure to stop by the visitor center to get information about its self-guided walking tours. “The Historic House Tour” takes you along the winding roads on a quiet walk through a landscape where the pine trees are the story, the houses are the pictures, and The Flowertown in the Pines is the title of the book with a word count as abundant as the flowers of the spring bloom. “The Sweet Tea Trail Tour” was created for visitors to experience Summerville as the Birthplace of Sweet Tea. On this tour, you will explore the shops, sites, sips, and tastes that make life in Summerville so sweet. You will meet The World’s Largest Sweet Tea named Mason. He is over 15 feet tall and the holder of a Guinness World Record.

10) Summerville’s famous Azalea Park, home of the Flowertown Festival, was started in 1933, and completed in 1935. All the flowers planted in the park, 33,000 in total, came from George Segelken’s Summerville Floral Nursery. Mr. Segelken was a pioneer in the propagation of azaleas. Tourists flocked to the park. Bumper to bumper traffic on a Sunday afternoon was a common sight during the annual bloom. Visitors came because of the park’s beauty, but more so because azaleas were an uncommon sight and relatively unknown in South Carolina, except in Summerville. The park runs along South Main Street.

11) B.I.R.D.S. is a public art initiative instituted to encourage participants to explore the downtown of Summerville. Twenty-two life-size bronze wildlife sculptures overlook the town from balconies, windowsills, shop signs, and rooftops. You follow a poetic series of clues to find each one. In the process, you learn about the native birds and the importance of keeping them healthy and abundant. B.I.R.D.S. encourages an appreciation for public art, enhances the economic vitality of downtown Summerville, and teaches the importance of conserving and restoring natural ecosystems to protect our birds. The project was a partnership between the Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, Sculpture in the South, and Summerville DREAM.

12) Today, it is known as “A Little Museum with Big Stories.” At one time, the Eagle Creek Lumber Company owned the land. Between 1923 and 1928, a 300,000-gallon cistern with a 100-foot steel water tower stood on the property adjacent to a one-story brick building. The brick building was enlarged to two stories. The Summerville Police Department took possession in 1976 with holding cells, offices, a courtroom for the Town Judge, a day room for officers, and a radio room. The Summerville Police Department moved to a new municipal complex in June 1990. The Summerville Dorchester Museum took occupancy in 1992 with renovations to follow and opened in 1993. Its mission is to collect, preserve and exhibit artifacts, and to develop educational programs relating to the cultural and natural history of the Summerville and Dorchester County area of South Carolina. Its location is 100 E Doty Ave.

"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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