LOCAL

ALT's 'Enchanted April' to send women on adventure

CHIP CHANDLER
Amarillo Little Theater's production of "Enchanted April" stars Carrie Huckabay, from left, Justin Loe, Brandon Graves, Gemma Harris, Jonathan Mobley, Lynae Latham Jacob and Pegi Lovett, seated.

In the drama "Enchanted April," two women decide it's long past time for them to embark on an adventure.

Behind the scenes, two of its stars are taking a new journey together, too.

The play - an adaptation of a 1922 novel and a 1992 film - opens Jan. 16 at Amarillo Little Theatre Mainstage, 2019 Civic Circle. It runs through Jan. 26.

"Enchanted April" follows a quartet of British women (played by Lynae Latham Jacob, Carrie Huckabay, Gemma Harris and Pegi Lovett) who travel to an Italian villa to rediscover their zest for life.

Stars Jacob and Lovett have plenty of zest, but the play is offering them a chance to realize their long-time goal to act together.

"Pegi and I have known each other for years," said Jacob, speech department chair at Amarillo College. "We've directed together, and I've directed her, but we've never acted together. This is something we both were excited about."

"She made me (audition)," Lovett interjected.

Lovett, who teaches theater at Crockett Middle School, recently co-starred in ALT's "Boeing Boeing," her first time on stage in a few years and what she thought might be the last role for a time. But the chance to act with Jacob and to tackle this play, which debuted on Broadway in 2003, were too much to pass up.

"What an opportunity," Lovett aid. "Even when you're tired you've got to jump at something like this."

In the play, Jacob takes the most convincing: Her character, Rose Arnott, is "dealing with the bleakness of her own life," when a stranger in her women's club, Lotty (played by Huckabay), talks her into traveling to Italy.

Lovett plays the "so British and so stuffy" Mrs. Graves, a "very old-fashioned biddy," the actress said.

"Ironically, (Jacob's and Lovett's) characters don't start out as fast friends during the play," director Allen Shankles said. "But they certainly have great chemistry. I think their friendship shows through."