Star-Spangled Girl at Port Cape

by Bryan Parker

Andy and Norman are two earnest young men using their apartment as a publishing office for a protest magazine. Enter Sophie, an Olympic swimmer and all-American girl who moves into the apartment next door. Add in love, rejection, strange telephone calls from bill collectors, a back-rent collecting landlady, as well as politics, and you get The Star-Spangled Girl, a funny Neil Simon comedy performed with great skill by the River City Players, July 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 at Port Cape Girardeau in downtown Cape.

Dr. Roseanna Whitlow, director, explained, "I performed this show as a dinner theatre production in the 80's in downtown Cape; but, this is the most quick paced and intelligent production I've ever seen yet. I am thrilled with the talent involved in this production. The cast all have varied and extensive acting experience and are perfect in these roles."

Assisting Roseanna in direction is co-director Bart Elfrink of Cape. "Bart has such a keen sense of comedy and timing. He has really made this play fresh and fun for today's audiences, as have our talented actors and top-notch crew," commented Roseanna.

The three member cast includes Kyle VanPool as Norman Cornell, the writer of Fallout, a protest magazine. Performing the role of Andy Hobart, Norman's roommate and the serious businessman of the team is Steve Ruppel. Rounding out the cast is Meagan Edmonds as Sophie Rauchmeyer, the star-spangled, all- American girl-next-door.

For reservations to this dinner theatre production, call (573)334-0954. "The dinner buffet is served at 6:30pm and the performance begins at 8pm. The Thursday July 22nd performance is the show only," continued Roseanna, " this show is just as funny, fresh, and fast moving as when it was first produced in the 60's. In fact, each decade it takes on a new life, as more audiences experience it's sweet, hilarious, love story.

Who's Who Of "The Star-Spangled Girl"

MEAGAN EDMONDS plays the title role of Sophie Rauchmeyer, the star-spangled all-American girl next door. This is Meagan's first production with the River City Players, however, she comes to this stage with an impressive and very rich list of roles to her credit. A senior at Southeast Missouri State University, Meagan has performed in many productions, including: 'Don't Dress For Dinner', 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', as well as her most recent triumph in the title role of 'Repunzel'. Meagan, who worked the last few summers in professional acting companies in Huron, Ohio and Charlottesville, Virginia, credits her love for musical theater as a motivating influence in her career thus far. "After I graduate this December, I will continue to audition and perform in theater companies. I truly love the stage and music theater."

KYLE VANPOOL portrays the character of Norman, the writer of 'Fallout', a protest magazine. Kyle described his character as an eccentric writer/hippie who brings comic relief to the production with his laid back style. Kyle has performed in various community theatres since the early age of eleven. Most recently he performed in the River City Players production of 'Love, Sex, and the IRS' as well as a set of one act plays at Southeast Missouri State University. Kyle also had the opportunity to participate in an independent film project shot in Cape Girardeau titled 'Dark Garden'. "I enjoy both different areas of performance, film and theater. However, I love the instant gratification from the feedback of the audience in live theater. It encourages me to give more to that performance."

STEVE RUPPEL completes the cast as Andy Hobart, the editor and publisher of the magazine. "My character has worked hard on publishing the protest magazine for about three years. When my partner falls for the girl next door, I find it a struggle to maintain control of the situation. Ironically, it is when my character stops trying to be controlling that things turn out the way they are meant to be." An accomplished actor, Steve has appeared in such River City Players productions as: 'Dearly Departed', 'Blood Ties', 'Dial M For Murder', as well as directing 'On Golden Pond' in 1998. He also performs with the Scallywag Theater Group, worked in many collegiate productions at Southeast Missouri State University, and has worked with several theaters throughout different parts of the country. Future plans for Steve include performing with equity theatres, hopefully in the Chicago area. "I enjoy the satisfaction of a good performance. It is great to be able to entertain and for a few hours be able to give the audience something to laugh, cry, or even think about. I really have enjoyed being able to work with this production. The relationship we have on stage is very special, especially with such a small cast. I feel the audience will sense this closeness and appreciate the performance even more."

BART ELFRINK is the co-director of Star-Spangled Girl. Bart has worked in the theater extensively and has future plans of directing more productions for the River City Player. A Video Production major at Southeast Missouri State University, Bart enjoys writing for films as well. "The biggest difference in film production, for me, is that I write much of what I am working on. I hope to pursue a production career that would ideally lead to production work in many different places including hopefully Hollywood." During the rehearsal stage of this production, Bart has been credited with bringing a unique comedic timing to the show. "Many times I will get an idea that I think would be funny and we try it on stage. The cast has been great in experimenting with new ideas."

DR. ROSEANNA WHITLOW is the director of 'The Star-Spangled Girl'. A communications teacher at Southeast Missouri State University, Roseanna has been involved with theater since the age of twelve. She has taught theater and directed productions for about 30 years. A board member of River City Players, Roseanna has recently had a very busy theatrical life. "Between the University Theatre and Dance, The Scallywag Theatre ( a melodrama theatre created by Doc Cain and Roseanna), and the River City Players, I have participated in seven full length productions in just over a year's time," explained Roseanna, "live theatre is something I just never get enough of."