‘Daughters’ play opens Friday at Hamner Theater

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Earl Hamner Jr. Theater at the Rockfish Community Center in Nellysford will be presenting a play about life as a woman in the Appalachian Mountains.

“Daughter of the Appalachians,” which was originally written as a book by Linda Goodman, is a collection of stories about the joys and struggles of six women whose mountain way of life is on the verge of disappearing.

Boomie Pedersen, co-artistic director at the Hamner Theater, is directing the production. She said the play is full of wonderful characters and interesting stories.

“What is really interesting is that they’re all based on either (Goodman’s) family or people she met,” Pedersen said. “There’s nothing fictionalized really about the things she describes.”

Goodman is originally from Wise County in southwest Virginia and now lives in Richmond. This is the first time her play has been performed in her home state.

The stories are told monologue- style by six local actresses and they are all centered on Martha Potter, a 94-year-old woman played by Chris Courtenay.

Through Potter, the stories are of Harlene, whose best friend is a dog, Boojie, and whose life is changed by her star-crossed lover; Nellveda Hawkins, who may or may not be the devil incarnate; Sara Jane, a woman who understands true beauty; and Jessie, who should’ve been more careful about what she wished for.

“I think the piece is a tribute to women, to the Appalachians, to sisterhood, and to survival,” Pedersen said. “Some of the stories are pretty grim, but you know what, that’s OK.”

The play also stars Kate Adamson, Rose Harper, Kerry Moran, Holly Schumann and Melissa Wender.

A preview will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The performance will be followed by a champagne reception.

The shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. May 7-9; and 2 p.m. May 10. Tea and cookies will be served after the May 10 performance to celebrate Mother’s Day.

A talkback with Goodman, Pedersen and the cast will be held after both Saturday shows. Goodman will also be available to sign copies of her book during the Mother’s Day matinee.

Pedersen said that with the tough economic times and in an effort to make the piece as available as possible to audiences, ticket prices for all of the “Daughters of the Appalachian” shows will be “pay-what-you-will.” The normal ticket price is $10.

For more information, call the Hamner Theater at (434) 361-1999 or visit http://www.thehamnertheater.com.