IN NATCHEZ MISSISSIPPI, SOUTHERN EXPOSURE PLAY

Sunday has arrived and another new church.  We drove in toward Natchez on Hwy 61 to Parkway Baptist Church.  As usual, we were greeted warmly and placed in SS Classes, separately, which is not our usual.  Very nice for getting acquainted though.
After church we drove on to Walmart to pick up my script.  It was a nice leisurely afternoon, waiting for the even performance of Southern Exposure.  It was again a later evening than usual for us.

An old Wesley Church later sold and turned into Natchez Little Theatre.

By removing the choir loft and the pulpit, the garden club owners were able to build a stage and add lighting and drapes, changing the church into a theatre.  It seats about two hundred people and is typical of old theatres, packed in!!  When we arrived we thought that we were going to be two in a small group of viewers.  However, after two bus loads of tourists, it was quite full. 

This play was written by Owen Crump, a successful script writer working in California, after a visit to Natchez.  It is a light comedy that pokes gentle fun at Natchez, it's traditions, it's aristocracy and it's tourists.  It was first a success in Dallas and later, in 1951, Natchez Little Theatre decided to perform it as a regular seasonal, in 1963 to become a regular during Spring Pilgrimage every year.

The play takes place in a typical antebellum house setting of fifty years ago where Penelope Mayweather, mistress of the house holds on to all she has left, pride and heritage.  Her housekeeper, Australia, lives with her and provides frank and funny insight into the activities in the house as tourists come and go.

Notice the tourist in the white hat making a beeline for the whatnot shelves!!  You will see that the shelves are much lighter decorated after she leaves!!

Hm-m-m, is this what we have to look forward to as we travel??  Wonder who will play nurse?

While the tour guide sets her cap for the visitor rooming in Mayweather Hall, notice later that he marries the daughter of another prosperous southern gentile family instead. 

 

Penelope Mayweather's concerns for the financial preservation of her heritage is put to rest when her boarder (writer) runs across Penelope's life time of diaries.  He calls in his New York publisher and finds that they are indeed a means to her financial success. 

We really enjoyed the production and felt that the main character, Penelope, was overshadowed by her impulsive, outspoken housekeeper.  Quite hilarious!! 

 

Monday we drove around town taking many more pictures and even got onto a private drive which led to conversation with a local who helps her brother run his Bed and Breakfast cottages along the river.  Her insight into the area was very interesting and she let us drive on down along the river.  We look forward to re-visiting Natchez another time!!  We know that we can find much more to do there as well as in Vicksburg just seventy miles to the north.  Vicksburg is known for it's part in the Civil War and has much history also. 

 

We spent a couple hours in a different Casino along the river today and walked out with our pockets still intact following our entertainment.  It is now lunch time so we know there is still another restaurant that we wanted to try out on Hwy 61.

 

Turns out it has only been there for a year and a half.  It must be quite popular as it is so busy at meal times that there is little available parking, even through their parking lot appears quite ample.  Turned out the food was more than ample, leaving us much to take home again!!  And oh, so delicious!!

 

I had made a bowl of potato salad for Gary to take with him to a Wild Game Banquet for the men at church.  See, we just settle in where ever we are!!  He did bring a little salad back and a delicious piece of chicken for me.

 

The Grand Hotel of Natchez

Looking up from first floor in Darby's clothing and accessories store.

Looks like there might be an apartment empty?

Love the wrap-around porches!!

We hit the road tomorrow to head on to Ohio as Audrey has doctor appointments beginning on Monday the 15th.  It looks like we will be running into rain on the way north.  We don't relish driving in that, but pray for safety.  We will just stop at Walmarts on the way for overnight.

See you Northerners soon!!