Independent Weekly review of ShallowfordThe Battle of Shallowford By Megan Stein The Battle of Shallowford is the story of the small town of Shallowford (which, we're invited to believe, is based on Lewisville, N.C.) and its simple way of life. The results are predictable, but nevertheless endearing: Everyone knows everyone; petty rivalries sheath the town's one-big-family mentality; young folks want to leave; and gossiping is a cherished downtime activity. The play, written by Tar Heel playwright Ed Simpson, is best thought of as a two-hour-long sitcom. Well-defined relationships between the characters are used formulaically to heighten the comic effects, as with the relentless jabbing old-timer Roy Sprinkle (Shawn Smith) gives the opinionated Clunette Campbell (Timothy Cherry). There is a mixture of small-town types: young dreamer Ruthie Mock (Kirsten Ehlert), slow-speaking "Doodad" Jarvis (David Corlette), his quiet, though comically intuitive dad Newsome Jarvis (Phil Lewis), and the town misfit Fred Martin (Don Smith), a gay ex city-dweller who is described as "not having all the right hormones." In a vaudeville climax, the residents of Shallowford prepare to defend their country against the aliens of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds radio broadcast, which they believe to be real. Since the audience is all too aware of the characters' foolishness here, it's fortunate that both the battle and the characters' ignorance last a relatively short time. However, the ending reveals itself as the weakest link in this thin, but otherwise enjoyable, outing as the play reverts to sitcom form with a Full House-style ending, in which the characters reveal what they have learned and how it made them better people. While the predictable situations detract from the play, they also provide reassurance that—as with sitcoms and small towns—things won't change. Ultimately, The Battle of Shallowford and its cozy aura (thanks to RLT's set design and the actors' successful adoption of country attributes, complete with N.C. drawl) should be enjoyed on an easygoing evening, when one might find appealing the idea of a lengthy (and commercial-free) episode of Full House. You are here: Home > Reviews and articles about the theatre's productions > Independent Weekly review of Shallowford |