Amana theatre is best-kept secret

On Aug. 23, my husband and I had the pleasure of attending the play, The Old Guy, at the Iowa Theatre Artists Company in Amana.

The play was written by the talented Tom Johnson, who is also the co-producer of the company. Johnson was a founding member of the Old Creamery Theatre and his wife, Meg Merckens, was a performer there for many years.

This play is a dramedy of sorts, with serious undertones amid myriad funny lines. The 'Old Guy” is played by Robert Gardner. He convincingly plays the curmudgeonly old dude with a heart of gold. Merckens, who is always a delight, is his very proper next door neighbor. Marshall Nielsen plays the snake-oil salesman of a realtor and the cast is rounded out by seventh-grader Elijah Jefferson as 'The Kid.” Elijah is funny and full of a young man's charm.

Based upon the small crowd at the performance, Iowa Theatre Artists Company is Eastern Iowa's best-kept secret. The plays at this theatre are equal to, if not better than, any you will see in the state of Iowa.

Nancy Zahn

Amana