Meaty leading roles for women above a certain age are few, which makes the part of Daisy Werthan, a special one for Debbie Fryer.
“It’s been on my ‘bucket list’ ever since I became age appropriate. Miss Daisy ages from 72 to 97 during the play, and it’s a great role for an actor because you get to show growth and change and depth of emotions during the play,” said Fryer who plays the role made famous by Jessica Tandy in “Driving Miss Daisy,” which will be staged by the Main Street Players March 21-23 and March 28-30 at Edgefield’s Discovery Center.
“Driving Miss Daisy” explores the evolving friendship between Werthan, an elderly Jewish widow, and her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn, from the late 1940s to 1973 in the Atlanta area.
Based on the relationships of the Playwright Alfred Uhry’s grandmother, her chauffeur and Uhry’s father, “Driving Miss Daisy,” which premiered in 1987, won a Pulitzer Prize for its depiction of the Deep South during the Civil Rights Era.
It focuses on the characters’ struggles with age, race and societal expectations over 25 years. The play was adapted into a 1989 film starring Tandy and Morgan Freeman. It won multiple awards including an Academy Award for Tandy as best actress and best picture in 1990.
“It’s a very challenging and rewarding show and with only three characters in the cast, it’s very intimate. You definitely need three experienced actors who have each other’s back and thankfully we do. And in this smaller venue in Edgefield, the audience will be able to see and experience every emotion with us as the relationships evolve during those 25 years,” she said.
Joining Fryer on stage is Kelvin Jenkins as chauffeur, Hoke Colburn; and Garrett Maroney as Boolee Werthan.
The March 21, 23 and 30 shows are already sold out. Tickets still remain for 7:30 p.m. shows on March 22, 28 and 29. Tickets are $20 and are available here.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
