Williamston's delightfully daft 'Creek' will make you shriek with laughter

It was the kind of opening night you couldn’t buy for a million dollars: a full moon, a sold-out house, the world premiere of a lovely new play and a standing ovation. 

On top of all that, there was something else. A special feeling in the air. That feeling of belonging, of excitement and expectation that audiences can sometimes get as they sink into their seats.

It was there opening night. And Williamston Theatre responded by delivering a production of “And the Creek Don’t Rise” that went down as smoothly and effortlessly as a Southern Comfort Manhattan.

“Creek” tells the story of Rob and Maddie Graff, a Detroit couple that have lost their jobs because of current hard economic times.  They move to the small Georgia town of Carson, where they hope to start a new life.

When next-door neighbor, Dr. Benjamin “Doc” Boggs (“Bless my soul, I’ve got me some genuine Yankees for neighbors!”) invites Rob to join him in a Civil War re-enactment, a “small” accident and a string of subsequent misunderstandings — some of them cultural — start a war between the two men.

“Creek” is written by multi-award-winning Michigan playwright Joseph Zettelmaier, whose plays have been done by professional theaters throughout Michigan; “It Came From Mars” was presented last season at Williamston.

His script brings together two strong actors, Thomas D. Mahard and John Lepard.  Mahard has appeared in 100 professional productions during his 30 years in Michigan, most of them at Meadow Brook Theatre. In the challenging role of Doc, he brings all that past experience plus an unrelenting energy to his characterization.

Williamston’s executive director Lepard embodies Rob as if the role were written just for him.  He is vulnerable, he is appealing, he is funny — as in, laugh-out-loud funny.  Of course, both men have been given some deliciously zany lines by Zettelmaier, and they make the most of them.

Even when the play gets to its more serious themes of Doc’s hidden isolation and loneliness, or Rob’s doubts about himself, the script never becomes heavy or maudlin, staying instead beautifully simple and true. Thanks to the skillful direction of Joseph Albright, the execution of the play is equally beautiful and true.

There was a scene on opening night in which Mahard and Lepard are flinging particularly cutting (but hilarious) insults at each other when suddenly they stop, stare at each other for a split-second and then double over in spontaneous laughter. Rather than being distracting, this was a charming and disarming moment. 

With all this going on, a lesser actress than the equally professional Kate Peckham (as Rob’s peacemaking wife) might have had a tough time surviving. Not Peckham: She created and sold her “amazing and weird” Maddie with exuberant self-confidence.  

The production staff of set designer Daniel C. Walker, lighting designer Reid G. Johnson, costumer Holly Iler, sound designer Will Myers and stage manager Nan Luchini is noticeably in top form. Their work — from the versatile set with its painted bright blue and red accents to the costumes and Civil War uniforms and the perfectly placed Dixie and bluegrass music — solidly supports the mood and effect of the play. Particularly noteworthy are the special lighting and sound effects in the important last scene, played out against authentic-sounding 4th of July fireworks in the distance.

‘And the Creek Don’t Rise’
Williamston Theatre
Through Aug. 14
8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; 3 p.m. Saturdays (except July 23), 3 p.m. July 21.
$24 Friday and Saturday evenings; $20 matinees; $18 Thursdays; $10 students; $2 off regular price for seniors
www.williamstontheatre.org
(517) 655-7469