Clear Creek theater stages classic for a stylish blast
James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant might seem like hard acts to follow, but some Bay Area actors are stepping up to the challenge in Clear Creek Community Theatre’s production of the 1939 Broadway play “The Philadelphia Story,” which runs through June 5.
Hollywood legends performed Philip Barry’s love triangle in the classic 1940 movie adaptation, but Nassau Bay’s stars are Mary Andrechik of League City as snooty Tracy Lord, Clear Lake’s Matt Schell as her ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (a fellow socialite), and Matthew Phillips of Galveston as tabloid reporter Mike Connor, who is hired to cover Tracy’s latest wedding to nouveau riche George Kittredge.
Soon, Tracy can’t decide who she’s in love with: Dexter, George or Mike.
Phillips directed himself in the show.
“He’s doing double-duty, but he’s definitely staying calm,” Andrechik said.
Stewart won an Academy Award for best actor as Mike Connor, and the movie was nominated for six Oscars including best film.
Earlier this year, at Purple Box Theater in Friendswood, Andrechik portrayed the title character in “The Wisdom of Eve,” a rarely seen play whose storyline inspired the movie classic “All About Eve.”
“Eve was a totally different character, very challenging to play because at the start of the play, she was Miss Really Sweet Meek Girl, but she was so conniving, totally driven, just horrible, horrible,” Andrechik said. “It was a blast.”
Andrechik has wanted to star in “The Philadelphia Story” since seeing the movie 10 years ago.
“I love that Tracy Lord is funny and smart and strong,” said Andrechik, who hadn’t been to Clear Creek Community Theatre until she auditioned.
“I read they were doing (the play) and thought, ‘I have to play that part. It’s my role.’ ”
In contrast, Phillips took the part of Mike out of necessity.
“We were short a male actor; so I had to take the role of either Sandy Lord, Dexter or Mike,” he said.
The director asked his wife, pediatrician Melissa Smith-Phillips, and several others which part he should play, “and they all said Mike,” he said.
Steve Sarp, who plays Kittredge, is the assistant director.
Katie Reed, who portrays Tracy’s mother, Margaret Lord, pitched in by painting a mural upstage and a designed shale-like flooring at center stage.
Others helped by finding vintage dresses for the women to wear, including a wedding dress for Andrechik’s character.
Tuxedoes for the men helped Schell get in character for a role that is quintessential Cary Grant.
Lauren McGuire, 16, plays Tracy’s sister, Dinah. The sophomore at Clear Springs High School is the daughter of Corey and Melanie McGuire of League City.
Rounding out the cast are Justin Brown, Teresa McLemore, Tim Raeke, Eryn Dorsey, Robert Crotteau and Justin Brown.
Kristina van Heeckeren of Kemah is the stage manager, Julie Miles of Friendswood is the assistant stage manager, and Bryan Stanfield of Clear Lake is a stagehand.
Phillips has self-published a novel, “The Promise,” and a collection of short stories, “Parson’s Trail,” under the nom de plume of L. C. Matthews. They can be purchased on Amazon.com. He plans to release two more novels this summer, both private-investigator fiction stories set in Houston and the Bay Area.
Andrechik works from home in direct sales of jewelry and accessories. She is married with two sons.