'Ezell's Fish Camp – The Musical' premieres Oct. 29 » Features

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October 9, 2009

'Ezell's Fish Camp – The Musical' premieres Oct. 29

By Ida Brown The Meridian Star Fri Oct 09, 2009, 11:23 PM CDT

A play that made its debut in Los Angeles more than 30 years ago will get a second viewing in Meridian, beginning Oct. 29.

"Ezell's Fish Camp – The Musical" was written by noted Meridian actor Elliott Street when he live in California.

"I did it as a Director's Project in a theater workshop – where you do it and see if anybody wants to help you develop it into a larger piece or move it into a different theater," said Street, whose credits include "Juwanna Mann," "The Legend of Bagger Vance," the TV mini-series "Chiefs," "The Winds of War," "The Mod Squad," "Hawaii Five-O" and "Mayberry RFD."

He presented the project to a group of friends to critique.

"I had another friend to interview them after they saw it and asks for observations and comments," Street said. "After I heard all the observations, I said, 'I've got to do some rewriting!'"

Several months ago when The Company of Angels, Meridian's only professional theatre company, was planning their upcoming season, Street (who serves as director) was asked if he had something in mind.

"I said, 'Let me do 'Ezell's Fish Camp,' and they said, 'What's that?' and I said, 'That's a musical that I wrote some years ago," he said. "They had heard the song I'd written for it, I play it every once in awhile at some our gatherings. So they said, 'Alright, let's do that.'"

The play will open Oct. 29 and will run weekends through Nov. 14 at Angels' Theater, located downstairs at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Among the many comments and suggestions made after the first viewing of the Director's Project, Street said the strongest question was: "If it's a comedy, why doesn't it have a happy ending?"

Street took the audience observations and did several rewrites so it has a happy ending and retitled it "Ezell's Fish Camp – The Musical."

As anyone from the area will recognize, the play's title and title song are taken from the landmark catfish house in Butler, Ala. However, the play takes place in a fictional location: Snipe County, Mississippi.

"I was told to always write about your personal experiences, so that's exactly what I've done," Street said. "One of the lead characters, Willie Homer (played by Clint Brown), had to change his name. This is not unlike my on experience with Screen Actors Guild."

Other parts are based on friends Street has known. E.J. Landrum, a Vietnam vet, did comedy in several comedy clubs in Los Angeles. Charles Koppakovski (Jeremy Sande)

and "Little" Lyndie Rodgers, a child star of country music (Sara Carmichael) are composites of people with whom Street has worked.

Other principal parts are played by Joe White (leader of Whitebread, the band); Chris Webster, Anna Edwards, George Barnett, Edgar Hernadez, Reginald Cole and Elizabeth Thomas.

Want to Go?

What: Company of Angel's

presentation of "Ezell's Fish Camp – The Musical"

When: Oct. 29-31, Nov. 5-7, and Nov. 12-14; 8 p.m. each evening

Where: Angels' Theatre, 1111 22 Ave.

Tickets: $25, includes one

beverage

For more information: Contact Elliott Street, (601) 480-4827

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'Ezell's Fish Camp – The Musical' premieres Oct. 29

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