by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Swamp Gravy may be the most unusual title ever conceived for a play. It is not, as one of my friends suggested, something available at the concession stands in Gainesville at a Florida football game. (Although it sounds like a good idea and might become as famous as Gatorade).
No, I have never seen the play Swamp Gravy but you can bet I will be heading to Colquitt Georgia in October to see the fall edition of fifteen-year-old classic.
My interest and enthusiasm for Georgia’s Official Folk Life Play, is the result of Grey and Glenda Duncan, Jacksonville’s champion theatregoers. The Duncans see practically everything in the North Florida area and have traveled to surrounding states to pursue their shared passion for live theatre.
Last Christmas when Grey and Glenda received a Xmas present from their children for two tickets to Swamp Gravy and a guest room at the historic Tarrer Inn, which is in walking distance to the theatre. They were excited beyond words.
To sum it up in one sentence, the Duncans gave a glowing review of the play, the hospitality of the Tarrer Inn and all the people they met in the small Georgia town of Colquitt, about 50 miles of Tallahassee on Highway 27.
Small towns are disappearing all over America, as young people move to larger more exciting cities, and families move to them for more employment opportunities.
Colquitt was facing the same dilemma 17 years ago. Colquitt resident Joy Jinks was in New York and was introduced to Dr. Richard Geer, who became their first Director and instrumental in starting this project. Geer, who had extensive experience with community theatre, accepted the challenge of preserving Colquitt’s history through storytelling, and Ms. Jinks saw this as a way to revitalize Colquitt.
With the help of a committee, Geer gathered stories about the people and the area and presented them to Jo Carson, who adapted them to play form for the stage.
The first performance of this new play started in a small elementary school, but in 1994 moved to Cotton Hall, a vacant downtown cotton warehouse. It is now a state of the art theatre, with stadium seating, full light and sound system. To keep that down-home atmosphere, a large flat bed truck is backed up to the stage and some of the scenes are done on it.
At this writing, over 80,000 people have seen the show in Colquitt and another 60,000 has seen Swamp Gravy on tour. The complete history of this wonderful community project can be found at swampgravy.com.
Cotton Hall has become a performing arts center and besides the two month long Swamp Gravy productions in October and March, there is the now annual Cotton Hall Christmas for two weeks in late November. On June 5 to the 16th, Swamp Gravy Songbook sings the songs that united the families during the great drought days of Colquitt. On June 22-23, Peter Pan will visit for 3 performances at bargain prices of $l0.00 for adults, $ 5.00 for children. Visit during the last two weekends of January, April or July and you’ll see May-Haw featuring music and stories by locals on special broadcasts on the fictitious WMHAW Radio.
The cast in this year’s Swamp Gravy numbers over l00, with all of them from the area. The play is rewritten each year, as is the original music, with Julies Corriere doing the writing and Dr. Geer once again directing. There seems to be a never-ending supply of stories about Southern Georgia folks.
I asked Grey what impressed him most about their theater adventure in Colquitt Georgia. He said the whole experience was just delightful, starting with the charming inn, the food, the friendliness, and the quality of the production.
This wonderful look into Southern life is great family entertainment, reasonably priced and easy to reach. Just drive west to Tallahassee, and take a right on Highway 27 and 50 miles later you will be in downtown Colquitt .The shows are becoming more and more popular so advance reservations are recommended. You can call for more information at 229-758-5450 or visit their website.
Thanks Grey, for the hot theatre tip. I reckon most of the stories in Swamp Gravy are true but I will bet you a catfish dinner that there are a few tall tales tossed into the mix just to keep things interesting. By golly, if I can find my blue jeans and my plaid shirt, I’ll be moseying up Colquitt way in October.
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