The Emory & Henry Theatre department is presenting William Inge’s “Picnic” December 8th-December 11th. William Inge was a successful playwright who focused on plays set in small town settings. Inge grew up in the small town of Independence, Misouri, and his childhood had a profound impact on his writing. “Picnic” was one of his earliest successes. Released in 1952, it won him a Pulitzer Prize, the Drama Critics Award, and the Theatre Club Reward.

The play was adapted to the screen in 1955. The movie was also successful, winning two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe and was named one of the top ten best films of 1955. “Picnic” focuses on the lives of the inhabitants of a small town in Kansas. The town is preparing for a picnic celebrating the end of summer, when a stranger arrives and dramatically affects the lives of everyone. The action takes place on the porches of two of the town’s inhabitants, which will allow for an interesting staging of the play. “It’s a play about repressed desires and fighting for what you think you want,” Kate Morton, who plays Rosemary, said.

The stranger, Hal, is played by Tommy Bateman, a veteran of Emory & Henry productions. Hal was a role that challenged Tommy. “He is a multifaceted character that plays many roles, depending who is around,” Bateman said. “I had the challenge of making Hal be many people while keeping the consistency that defines him.” There are surprises in store for the audience. Kate Morton plays Rosemary, a 35-year-old typing teacher. “Rosemary has a lot of surprises in store in the show, so I don’t want to give too much away,” Morton said. Morton thinks the small town setting will resonate here in the small town of Emory. “I think the show is perfect for the Emory community because it deals with the realities of living in a small town,” Morton said, “but not in an offensive stereotypical way we’re so used to seeing.”

All of the cast members feel that this show has a lot to offer to all audience members. “The play will envelop the audience in such an intimate way that an audience member can’t help but experience the action themselves,” Bateman said. “You are going to see a lot of talent up on that stage, many of which who have not been in a lot of, if any, main stage productions before,” Morton said. “And, I am certain that the play itself will touch everyone who sees it in a very personal way.” The play features a large cast which allows for many different stories and themes to be presented. “There are several stories and different messages; it depends on the audience member which part will touch them,” Erin Blakenship said. “It’s a very emotional play.” “I think our goal is to personally touch each audience member, in whatever way that means,” Morton said. Those involved are not daunted by the play’s prestigious history at all either. “Our job is to tell the story truthfully,” Morton said. “We focused on our production, not trying to live up to the prestige of the play.” Overall, cast members feel that this will be another in the long line of successful Emory & Henry Theatre productions. “This is a play that Emory & Henry can be proud of,” Bateman said.