The play is set in the small southern town of brookhaven, mississippi, and tells an archetypical story of a young woman trying to reinvent herself. Her nickname is the result of a childhood prank gone wrong. The miss firecracker contest by beth henley biz books. Miss firecracker is the streamlined title of the film version of beth henleys play the miss firecracker contest. The miss firecracker contest by jain lemos janine oneill leaves everything shes got on the stageincluding her bloomersin the adobe theaters production of the miss firecracker contest. May 04, 2009 the problematic thing about henleys work, and the script for the miss firecracker contest is a good example, is that it comes from a school of playwriting in the late 1970searly 1980s that doesnt hold up particularly well. When her beautiful cousin, elain, and elains estranged brother return to town, situations become more complicated. The miss firecracker contest south camden theatre company. For the talent portion of the miss firecracker contest, carnelle scott is going to tapdance to the starspangled banner. Carnelle scott is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. The miss firecracker contest is a fulllength comedy by beth henley. You can look at beth henleys the miss firecracker contest now onstage in a marvelous production at tipping point theatre, from a few angles. Theatre announces cast for the miss firecracker contest. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for popeye jackson from the miss firecracker contest.
Popeye, the young seamstress who aids carnelle with her costumes, and mac sam. Footlight players provide bit of sparkle to the miss. The miss firecracker contest, is superficially, a comedy about a small town southern beauty pageant, in which henley reflects in a sardonic manner on how and why women put themselves through such contests. This is not new material, but henley replaces some of the painful sincerity with. The ensemble cast seem oddly matched and mismatched at the same time, which is underlying theme of the stage play. Beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, the southern gothic drama on stage at limelight theatre through march 30, boldly dissects traditional 1950s60s small town values. The miss firecracker contest brings quirks and comedy to. Miss firecracker contest ending theatre season at ecu april 7, 2008 her reputation is just a bit tarnished shes called miss hot tamale, after all but carnelle scott has a plan to win the admiration of the townsfolk in her small mississippi community.
If you just hit print every single monologue will print humorous all kiding aside bumsevelyn bumsmary bus stop coupla chicks. This study guide consists of approximately 38 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the miss firecracker contest. Popeye jackson from the miss firecracker contest summary. But carnelle, who has dyed her hair flamered for the occasion, would. The miss firecracker contest wins with laughs and drama. A scene from the miss firecracker contest by beth henley, directed by abby illig. The problematic thing about henleys work, and the script for the miss firecracker contest is a good example, is that it comes from a school of playwriting in the late 1970searly 1980s that doesnt hold up particularly well. Aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named popeye and several other cheerfully nutty characters, carnelle perseveres. The miss firecracker contest by beth henley opened this weekend at the laurel mill playhouse, and is directed by patrick pase and produced by julie rogers. This hilarious comedy begins in a small mississippi town of brookhaven a few days before the fourth of july.
If you enjoy a bit of quirkiness and over the top performances than the miss firecracker contest will light up the stage and sparkle for. The miss firecracker contest at laurel mill playhouse. The general conclusion the characters reach is that, even if the real you is not. Kind, generous, and a little bit naive, she hopes to wipe away her scandalous past in brookhaven by winning the miss firecracker contest and leaving town in a blaze of glory. Jul 28, 2011 academy award nominee holly hunter is sensational as carnelle scott, a catfishfactory worker from mississippi whose rep as the town slut cant stop her dream to win the local miss firecracker. The miss firecracker contest, along with other beth henley plays, is characterized as a southern gothic.
The miss firecracker contest character descriptions for teachers. But shes determined to turn it around by becoming this years miss firecracker. In the plays opening the characters retain no acumen on how to reach joy. Hijinks ensue when she runs into some colorful characters from her past. Its been called a part of the southern gothic tradition of literature. The miss firecracker contest provides theatre goers with a few laughs and an absurd story. Indeed, the local name for carnelle is not miss firecracker but miss hot tamales.
But caught up in the wacky humor and engaging performances of tipping points actors, you might wonder how the play fits in that genre. Carnelle scott known locally as miss hot tamale is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. A small town beauty pageant sets the scene for the miss firecracker contest, a southern comedy by jacksons own beth henley. The film, set in yazoo city, mississippi, was written by pulitzer prizewinning playwright beth henley and is based on her 1984 play, the miss firecracker contest. Miss firecracker is a 1989 american comedy film directed by thomas schlamme. The miss firecracker contest is a southern literature play written by beth henley. Miss firecracker contest theatre department past productions.
Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for popeye jackson from the miss firecracker contest join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. There are some real gems in here, the scene where popeye alfre woodward explains how her eyes started popping out, and delmont and his former miss firecracker sister tim robbins and mary steenburgen tango through the house. Carnelle scott popeye jackson elain rutledge delmount williams mac sam tessy mahoney. The miss firecracker contest plot summary, character breakdowns, context and. She is attempting to redeem her reputation by entering and winning the miss firecracker contest. The css production of the miss firecracker contest.
She longs to receive the respect and admiration that her cousin elain won with the community years ago. Elain enters with the news that popeye is missing and thus cannot fix the dress. Performed at bergen county academies june 10th, 2011. When beth henley is really flying, her comic voice has the crazed yet liberating sound of a rebel yell. The miss firecracker talent contest is brilliantthis film deserves attention. Miss firecracker not a dud, but it misses key sad notes. Miss firecracker is a 1989 comedy film directed by thomas schlamme. Popeye is the seamstress who makes carnelles costume. The excitement and anticipation of the shows kickoff to a threeweek run was apparent in the audience and on stage.
The miss firecracker contest, her wily and witty comedy now being revived at. The unexpected arrival of her cousin elain, a former miss firecracker winner, who has. But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named popeye and several other cheerfully nutty characters, carnelle perseveresleading to a denouement of unparalleled hilarity, compassion and moving lyricism as all concerned finally escape their unhappy pasts and turn. The astate theatres production of the miss firecracker contest is under the stage direction of lisa bohn, assistant professor of theatre. Catherine dybiec holm, critical essay on the miss firecracker contest, in drama for students, thomson gale, 2005. Academy award nominee holly hunter is sensational as carnelle scott, a catfishfactory worker from mississippi whose rep as the town slut cant.
The followup to her pulitzer prizewinning crimes of the heart, this explosively funny play teems with memorable characters and demonstrates yet again authors unique gift for finding rich lodes of humour and simple wisdom in the zany activities of smalltown life. The place is the small mississippi town of brookhaven, the time a few days before the fourth of july. Jul 20, 2019 the miss firecracker contest, along with other beth henley plays, is characterized as a southern gothic. From pulitzer prize winner beth henley crimes of the heart, this dark southern comedy tells the story of a small town beauty queen trying to save her tarnished reputation and leave town in a blaze of glory by winning the miss firecracker contest. The miss firecracker contest the column online by john garcia. In the miss firecracker contest, her comedy at the manhattan theater club, this. Folks of firecrackerjust arent quite human orlando. Josie steller played carnelle scott in the css production of the miss firecracker contest, and she did a fantastic job. Popeye jackson this character is a seamstress who claims she can hear through her eyes. Beth henley stocks her plays with characters that are distinctive and outlandish, right down to their names. Theatre arlingtons production of the miss firecracker contest was a pleasant way to start my weekend as i attended opening night this past friday. In new stage theatres production of beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, the characters from left popeye deja abdulhaqq, carnelle jessica wilkinson, delmount david lind. The miss firecracker contest uses the themes of outer and inner appearances to guide these characters journeys toward a realization of true beauty.
May 28, 1984 when beth henley is really flying, her comic voice has the crazed yet liberating sound of a rebel yell. The miss firecracker contest tennessee, usa listed by. Few think she can win, even her closest friends and relatives e. Other characters from the miss firecracker contest. The actress must be willing to dye their hair bright red, not a wig. Carnelle scott known locally as miss hot tamale is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation. Jun 29, 2015 the miss firecracker contest by beth henley opened this weekend at the laurel mill playhouse, and is directed by patrick pase and produced by julie rogers. Its heroine, carnelle, is an irrepressible young woman who thinks that winning the local beauty contest will restore her soiled. Theres a moment in beth henleys the miss firecracker contest when popeye jackson describes viewing the moon through a telescope to delmount williams. Tessy mahoney this character is the beauty contestant. The characters in henleys world are very over the top, which brings out the comedy in the piece. The miss firecracker contest by wimberley players ctx. The characters are frequently given peculiar names, like a woman named popeye, and strange backstories to go.
The miss firecracker contest the column online by john. A funny character with a hard life, popeye got her nickname from a. Carnelle is trying to get into the miss firecracker contest as she hopes it will help her reputation before leaving her small town roots. The excitement and anticipation of the shows kickoff to a threeweek run was apparent in the audience and on stage during executive producer todd harts introduction. Carnelle scott, 24, the beauty contestant popeye jackson, 23. The miss firecracker contest by beth henley tells a story of acceptance. Miss firecracker contest free download as word doc. This is strictly confidential, but the word is out that the only real contenders for the miss firecracker crown are you and caroline jeffers. With holly hunter, mary steenburgen, tim robbins, alfre woodard. She was light on her feet and endearing in her role.
Through the comical journey we meet a collection of colorful characters, all of which carnelle uses to her advantage on her way to being featured in the pageant. Mar 14, 2017 beth henley stocks her plays with characters that are distinctive and outlandish, right down to their names. Twelfth night productions tnp is proud to open its spring production, the miss firecracker contest, by beth henley on friday april 9. Maybe i should go on and get your measurements off you right now if ya dont mind. The miss firecracker contest, her wily and witty comedy now being revived at south. From the author of crimes of the heart, the miss firecracker contest is a southern gothic comedy for which henley is best known. When you are ready to print, please highlight, copy, and paste into a document. Played with perfectly endearing charm by maggie meyer, popeye seems not quite of this world in a good way.
The film, set in yazoo city, mississippi, was written by pulitzer prize winning playwright beth henley and is based on her 1984 play, the miss firecracker contest. The miss firecracker contest at laurel mill playhouse dc. This drama address many issues to create a positive conclusion by explaining happiness, insecurities and true beauty. Carnelle isnt happy with her life, so in order to improve herself she enters a local beauty contest, trying to emulate her cousin elains win many years ago. Folks of firecrackerjust arent quite human orlando sentinel. Beth henleys sly comedy about a gawky gal trying to shed her reputation as the town tramp by winning the miss firecracker contest bursts with eccentric characters that define southern gothic.
Stein as carnelle scott, tori sicklick as popeye jackson in a scene from the miss firecracker contest, written by beth henley. It stars holly hunter, mary steenburgen, tim robbins, alfre woodard, and scott glenn. Fireworks on the fourth of july jackson free press. The miss firecracker contest, along with other beth henley plays.
But, aided by a touchingly awkward seamstress named popeye who is hopelessly smitten by delmount and several other cheerfully nutty characters, carnelle perseveresleading to a denouement of. In miss firecracker, the playwright beth henley has taken such a contest, the fourth of july pageant in yazoo city, miss. The miss firecracker contest written by beth henley. Twelfth night productions to present the miss firecracker. Life has thrown this lady some curveballs, and she hasnt always responded with the best game plan. Apr 16, 2014 a small town beauty pageant sets the scene for the miss firecracker contest, a southern comedy by jacksons own beth henley.
The miss firecracker contest is a twoact play that was originally. The miss firecracker contest ends with carnelle, popeye, and delmount watching the independence day pyrotechnics from a perch atop the tent where the contest was held. Foothills community players announces auditions for the miss firecracker contest by beth henley auditions for fcps production of the miss firecracker contest by beth henley will be held on saturday, december, 2014, from 2. In the process she earned for herself the monicker of miss hot tamale. Miss firecracker contest ending theatre season at ecu. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities.
As the miss firecracker contest opens, carnelle scott is practicing her talent routine for the upcoming fourth of july beauty pageant in brookhaven, mississippi. Assisting her in this venture is popeye jackson, an extremely odd and. Holly hunter plays a mississippi girl whose sole reason for being is to enter. Popeye, the young seamstress who aids carnelle with her costumes, and mac sam, the man selling balloons at the pageant. It got a production at the manhattan theatre club offbroadway in 1984 directed by stephen tobolowsky, who was henleys romantic partner at the time. Both charming and irreverent, the miss firecracker contest is a wistful take on southern beauty culture and the reallife facades it so eloquently symbolizes. Characters, carnelle scott popeye jackson elain rutledge delmount williams mac sam tessy mahoney. Early 20s, a local seamstress responsible for designing carnelles pageant wear. Carnelle hires popeye, an odd girl from poor beginnings, to sew her. Firecracker, a beth henley comedy the new york times. Mar 14, 2014 beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, the southern gothic drama on stage at limelight theatre through march 30, boldly dissects traditional 1950s60s small town values particularly how.