The Wetumpka Depot Players have found a way to make dating fun through its latest production Ten Minutes on a Bench.
The Kenneth Jones’ romantic comedy matches singles who meet for the first time on a bench. There isn’t much else to carry the show. There is very little set decoration. It all relies on the skill of the actors to carry the show. The Depot’s version is directed by award winning actor Tony Davison who is also the new theater teacher at Benjamin Russell.
The lack of props and scenes doesn’t scare Davison.
“It’s an intimate show,” Davison said. “It’s nice to have a chance with a show to really dive into the acting part and not have to worry too much about other moving parts.”
The Depot premiered another of Jones’ plays Hollywood, Nebraska last year.
Ten Minutes is a series of vignettes into the first meetings of couples from a dating app of the same name.
“The main theme about it is connection,” Davison said. “They are not allowed physical contact, so they have to talk to each other for 10 minutes. It can be challenging for people in this day and age.”
Davison said the show has hilarious moments, sweet touching moments and cringing moments. The lack of scenery and props means the audience is looking in one place.
“The action is with the actors,” Davison said. “There are not a lot of bells and whistles. It’s not necessarily small because it includes a decent size cast.”
The cast includes Sydney Burdette, Isaac Garrison, Renee Lewis, Seth Maggard, Todd Tasseff, Jean Webb, James Ward and Laura Smith.
Davison himself is an award-winning actor. Most recently he earned the Outstanding Achievement in Acting award at the American Association of Community Theatre Festival (AACTFest) in Louisville, Kentucky last summer for his role of Rufus in A Storm Came Up.
Davison said he likes to both act and direct as one skill supports the other.
“I think for all of us actors turned directors, we are just an amalgamation of all the directors that we have loved in the past,” Davison said.
He approached Wetumpka Depot Players’ artistic director Kristy Meanor at the beginning of the summer looking to help out again.
“I asked about audition opportunities, but everything was already cast,” Davison said. “But there was an opportunity to direct.”
Davison majored in theater and went on to get his master’s degree in theater as well. Before Benjamin Russell he was the theater teacher at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School.
Ten Minutes on a Bench is on the stage at the Wetumpka Depot Plays Aug. 8-16. Tickets can be purchased at wetumpkadepot.com, Company Street Mercantile or at the door.
