THEATER REVIEW: ‘Southern Comforts’ finds heart of love later in life

By Diana Nollen

AMANA - “Southern Comforts” is an utterly charming new show, held lovingly in the skilled hands of the Iowa Theatre Artists Company.

The small audience that witnessed the opening matinee Friday, May 7, had a ball.

This is a show that deserves to have sellout crowds.

The professional troupe's intimate stage in the heart of Amana is the perfect setting for this most intimate look at falling in love later in life.

Meg Merckens, easily one of the finest actresses among Eastern Iowa's abundance of talent, finds her equal in Robert Gardner of Minnesota, who performed so beautifully last season in “Foxfire” and “From the Homefront.” Both are adept at physical humor and characterization, but can turn serious on a dime when needed.

They play Amanda Cross and Gus Klingman, two seniors who are cranky and quirky in completely different ways, yet so alike. Both have been widowed, one fairly recently, one years ago.

Amanda was raised in the mountains of Tennessee and has driven north to visit her daughter in New Jersey. On behalf of her daughter's church, she delivers offering envelopes to Gus. He has lived nearly all his life in his sparsely furnished house and seldom graced a church pew.

Stuck inside during a downpour, they're forced to make small talk, and with each passing scene in Act I, we get to see their romance hesitantly, gingerly grow.

Much of the first half is hilarious, sweet and poignant as they dip their toes in unfamiliar waters. Playwright Kathleen Clark has captured so perfectly the awkward conversations of two wounded people as they try to open up and wade through tough relationship issues.

The tone grows more serious in Act II, as old emotions and regrets, kept bottled up for years, spew forth in ways neither one expects. They reach a breaking point during a heated discussion of burial plots and headstones.

I recognized my mom, aunts, uncles and other relatives widowed young and old, in every aspect of this finely crafted play.

Just as the characters find comfort in each other, so will their audiences.

FAST TAKE

• What: “Southern Comforts”
• Where: Iowa Theatre Artist Company's Performing Arts Center in the former Barn Restaurant, 4709 220th Trl., Amana
• When: Through May 30, 2010
• Showtimes: 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays;  1:30 p.m. Sundays
• Tickets: $25 adults; $10 students, at (319) 622-3222 or go to www.iowatheatreartists.org