The Trip to Bountiful Asks Whether You Can Go Home Again

2^nd Story Theatre’s presentation of The Trip to Bountiful, from playwright Horton Foote, asks the age-old question: Can you go home again?

The time is the 1950s. Carrie Watts (Paula Faber) is an elderly woman who lives in a cramped Houston apartment with her son Ludie (Nathanael Lee) and daughter-in-law Jessie Mae (Lara Hakeem). Carrie is besieged by Jessie Mae, who is driven crazy by Carrie’s singing of hymns and her pouting. Ludie is a devoted son, but is hesitant to disobey Jessie Mae’s wishes. Carrie plans a trip to her hometown of Bountiful and buys a bus ticket before meeting a friendly woman named Thelma (Erin Olson), who misses her husband. Meanwhile, Ludie, aided by a sympathetic sheriff (Joe Henderson), and Jessie Mae are hot on her trail, determined to bring her back to their home. The themes of love, family, and longing for the past are all elegantly intertwined in The Trip to Bountiful.

Director Ed Shea has crafted a deeply moving drama that makes the most of a talented ensemble cast. Faber gives a powerhouse performance and draws our sympathy as Carrie embarks on her quest. She is a strong-willed woman who has experienced tremendous heartbreak during her life. Hakeem is terrific as Jessie Mae, who is a petulant and selfish woman who has no concern for Carrie’s feelings. The songs by Eric Behr enhance the poignancy of the story.

The images projected on giant screens on the stage help us imagine the sentimental journey Carrie takes. We are whisked from a threadbare apartment to a bus station to her childhood home.

The Trip to Bountiful is a perfect capper to what has been a stellar year for 2^nd Story Theatre.

The Trip to Bountiful runs through December 21. 2^nd Story Theatre, 28 Market St, Warren. For tickets, call 401.247.4200.