Benson Little Theater celebrates 20th anniversary

By Randy Capps

BENSON — Neil Simon's classic play, “The Odd Couple,” features the interaction between a sloppy, carefree writer and his neurotic, neat freak friend.

Later adapted for both TV and a movie, it's a classic tale about how different people can come together to make each other better.

Perhaps it's fitting that performances of that show on Oct. 12, 18 and 19 are leading off the 20th season of the Benson Little Theater, since the organization itself reaps the benefits of cooperation.

A product of the Benson Foundation for the Arts, the productions have come a long way over the past two decades.

“It started out as sort of a grass roots idea,” Benson Foundation for the Arts chairman D.H. Johnson said. “With some funding from the Johnston County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, multiple people in the community pulled money together to make that happen. Over the past 20 years, we have progressed from a bare-bones first production. But they were very popular. The community wanted something like that to happen. They stood behind it and showed up, and it's just got bigger and better.”

The BFA has been around even longer, founded in 1989 by Noela Woodall, and its first project was the renovation of the W.J. Barefoot Auditorium. This included an overhaul of the backstage area and the addition of meeting and dressing rooms.

The Benson Little Theater, through an agreement with the Town of Benson, is allowed to use the auditorium free of charge.

“I think you see a lot of small theaters start and end because of that financial burden of space and rentals,” Johnson said. “We're very lucky that we work together like that, and we're proud of it.”

“The Odd Couple” is a bit of a departure from the usual Benson Little Theater production, and Johnson is excited to bring the classic comedy to Benson.

“I think any community theater will tell you that what sells are bigger shows, usually musicals, things that have a lot of younger people, children and teenagers,” he said. “Because every child is a guaranteed four to six ticket sales. So, they have not done plays. So, this is the first play we've done that's not a Christmas play (in a while).

“I think the last straight play we've done was “Steel Magnolias,” and I think that was 2003. It's one of the funniest plays I've ever experienced. Just perfect comedy writing.”

The new season also features “The Embers Christmas” Show on Dec. 7, Benson's Got Talent Jr. on Feb. 1 and “Guys and Dolls” on April 24-26.

The Embers show is another wrinkle in the usual schedule, but it's a chance for Johnson and the rest of the Benson Little Theater board members and volunteers to better enjoy the holiday season — while still fundraising for improvements to the W.J. Barefoot Auditorium.

“Normally, we've done either Christmas variety shows or fully scripted musicals,” he said. “That's a lot of work, and it takes you from October into December. That becomes your life, whoever is working on it.

“As an organization, we decided that, since we try to promote all kinds of arts, this would give us a chance to promote a band. Instead of all of us spending every waking moment through the holidays struggling to get a show up, this was a nice opportunity. They sort of bring their own show, and we present them.”

As one might expect, Johnson has strong ties to the theater. He worked as an actor in New York before returning home to Benson a few years ago to take care of his mother.

His directoral debut was for a BLT production of “Annie Get Your Gun” in 2002.

“Immediately after, I said, 'this is not for me. I am never directing another show,'” he said. “Went to a meeting 24 hours later, walked out and they had convinced me to direct “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

It's hard to shake the theater bug, and it's one of the reasons that Johnson believes the Benson Little Theater is such an important part of the community.

“I feel that it's one of the only community events that you can bring all ages, people of all backgrounds, no matter race, creed or whatever, everybody in the community can be involved,” he said. “And it's in various ways. It's an outlet to be creative. You can dive into an emotional life, as opposed to something physical like a cookout or a ball game or a concert of some kind.

“You really exercise everything that's inside you, your body and your brain. And people who want to give a shot to being in the entertainment field, and want to sing and dance and learn lines, they can do that. People who don't want to be in the spotlight, they can do things behind the scenes. Like make costumes, design props, move sets, run lights — it's a huge variety. It's an intense project. It gives everybody a chance to explore their creative sides.

“It doesn't matter who you are or what your level of expertise is. We have professionals and amateurs. There are not many projects like that in the community.”

For more information, visit www. thebensonarts.com.