By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | You may not be able to go back in time, but it was near that Saturday night in Duluth. Red Clay Theater audience members thoroughly enjoyed “Mayberry Moments,” a throwback to the days of the original Andy Griffith show. The theatre was packed, laughing and appreciating bluegrass music.
Even when arriving at the theater, you immediately saw something that let your mind wander to the days of Barney Fife and Andy: a black-and-white 1962 Ford Galaxie police car, with the Mayberry decal on the doors. The auto is owned by Dentist Dr. Slade Lail, who was the guiding light behind bringing the show to Duluth.
And of course, Deputy Barney was there, as beautifully played by David Browning. He enlivened the show all night, strutting, or rubbing his right leg, or throwing his head back, all as Barney would, bringing the character to life. Later on, his gun strapped to his side, he even showed the single silver bullet that Andy had him keep in his shirt pocket.
Mostly a night of bluegrass music, the show had two of the original cast members of the musical Darling family of the Andy Griffith show, Rodney Darling and Charlene Darling, originally played by Maggie Peterson. She joined the band in presenting songs not often heard these days, right out of the script of the Andy Griffith show.
Rodney, now living in Branson, Missouri, travels extensively with his band, and provided the bulk of the program, usually favorite bluegrass tunes, strumming his guitar, backed by three other members of his band.
WHERE ONCE PEOPLE in Metro Atlanta would have to drive into the downtown area to see performances like these, Gwinnett now has several performance platforms that can easily accommodate traveling performers.
Just think of the stages now in constant operation in Gwinnett. Besides the Red Clay Theater, there is:
- Buford’s Sylvia Beard Theatre, with seating for 274 persons;
- Lawrenceville’s Aurora Theatre, with two stages, the largest seating 250;
- Norcross’ Lionheart Theatre, a more intimate stage, with 80 seats.
- New Dawn Theatre in Duluth, with 164 seats.
- And by the spring of 2018, in Sugar Hill, a new stage with 387 seats.
Then there’s also the 700 seat Performing Arts stage at the Infinite Energy Center, and of course, for really big shows, the Arena itself, with more than 10,000 seats. So as never before, live theatre has more stages than ever in Gwinnett.
HOWEVER, ALL IS NOT WELL with theater in Gwinnett. Snellville’s New London Theatre is closing. Dawn Berlo, chairman of the board, recently announced:
Dear Patrons and friends of New London Theatre:
It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write this letter on behalf of myself and the board. We have come to a decision that was difficult but has to be done.
The theatre, after 18 years, will be closing our physical doors as of June 1. We have no other options and it breaks our hearts to do this, but financially we are just not able to make ends meet any longer.
We will be liquidating our inventory of props, costumes, tech, and assorted items, so if there is anything you would like to purchase, please feel free to let us know via email at inventory@newlondontheatre.org.
Thank you for allowing us to entertain you, enrich your lives, and for you being part of the NLT family. Thank you for your support over the years and we hope we will meet again in the future.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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