Tellico Community Playhouse opened Thursday for the first event of 2022 with an inspiring performance of “A Red Plaid Shirt.”

The Patricia Smith Theatre was packed for opening night and for shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday, House Manager Len Willis said.

Willis said there were a few seats left in the early shows but the 136-seat playhouse was essentially sold out. There are still a few tickets left for each this week’s remaining shows Thursday-Sunday.


Saturday before the show, the buzz around tables at Little Italy of Tellico Village next door to the theater was all about how great the show had been on previous nights. A half-hour before the show started, attendees were gathering in the lobby. Ushers wearing red plaid shirts started showing people to their seats a few minutes later. More than a few red plaid shirts could be seen in the audience.

Joel Borman and his wife, JoLynn, were volunteer ushers wearing red plaid. In the past they have also worked in costumes, acting in plays and volunteering when not attending almost every performance. They moved to Tellico Village a few years ago from Chicago.

They said they were excited to be a part of the first performances in two years and feel lucky their community has an asset like the playhouse.

Before the curtain opened, Director Sue Aukermann thanked all the attendees, donors, cast and crew. She explained that the show had been about two years in the making. Originally scheduled for the early in the 2020 season, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the production, she said.

Art mimics life

The play is a comedy about two retired couples trying to make sense of the next phase of their lives. There were enough retired couples in the audience to assure the jokes hit home.

Russ Rinehart played Marty, the self-effacing retired central character trying to find his way in the retired world. His wife Deb was played with acerbic wit by Barbara Kistler-Martin. The two banter and bicker back and forth, but it’s clear they both just want the other to be happy.

Bill Paxon and Lisa Silverman played Fred and Gladys Baxter, longtime friends of Deb and Marty, who are going through their own life crisis as Fred obsesses about his many medical issues that may be all in his imagination.

The two husbands embark on a woodworking class to fill their spare time, even though Marty actually wants to buy a motorcycle and hit the open road. The woodworking class leads to lots of laughs as the men develop “secret projects” and their wives try to figure out what they are up to. When the secret project is revealed, the play comes to a climax of laughter mixed with some darker emotions.

The relationship between the two couples has the feel of an “I Love Lucy” episode as both husbands and wives find themselves in situations ranging from hilarious to heartwarming. The audience laughed along as Fred and Marty share a faux medical emergency during woodworking class and Deb and Gladys share a flashback about an art class.

The play was written by Michael G. Wilmot, who wrote for Jay Leno and episodes of Saturday Night live. Knoxville teacher Heather Worley, at the playhouse for the first time, said she thought the play had an “arc” reminiscent of a TV sitcom where the comedy builds to a peak before dropping off to a more subdued pace just before building back to finish with a laugh.

‘They’re amazing’

Casey Benzel, who is a co-worker with lead actress Kistler-Martin, said the play reminded him of an episode of “All in the Family.”

Tellico Village resident Peggy Kahr said she had been attending plays since performed at the Yacht Club years before. She said she thought the play got better and funnier as it went along.

“I really liked it,” she said.

Norm and Linda Schuessler have also attended many performances at the theater. They said they enjoyed the play and the production, especially the way the set was constructed and switched around during scene changes.

“They’re amazing,” Norm said. “These people are really good.”

Maggie Diggs, also a Village resident, said she felt the relationship between the spouses was authentic. The banter back and forth between husband and wife reminded her of interactions with her own husband, she said.

Tellico Community Players will perform an entire season in 2022.

In April, the company features the comedy drama “House for Sale.” In July, “Harvey” will bring back memories of the comedy performance of Jimmy Stewart in the movie made from the 1944 Broadway hit. In September, sing along with musical comedy “Church Basement Ladies.” The year concludes in December with “A Gift to Remember,” a classic Christmas Eve drama.