It was 1972 when Hackmatack Playhouse’s founder, S. Carleton Guptill, first invited patrons to step through the doors of his historic family barn to experience professional theater in quaint Berwick. The playhouse was another chapter in the picturesque farm’s colorful history, which dates back to the mid-1600s.

S. Carleton died in 1995, but his son, Michael, has kept the tradition alive, continuing to showcase professional and developing thespians each summer. This year is Hackmatack Playhouse’s 40th season. And, to celebrate, the theater opened Wednesday with “Ten Nights In A Barroom,” the first production S. Carleton Guptill staged.

Fittingly, “Ten Nights In a Barroom,” written by William W. Pratt, has quite a history of its own. Pratt based the melodrama on a book by T.S. Arthur, which was first published in 1854. The book was considered sensationalist literature and rivaled “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in popularity. Pratt adapted the temperance novel to the stage in 1858, and the story went on to be the subject of six silent films and a 1931 movie starring William Farnum, Tom Santschi and Peggy Lou Lynd.

Hackmatack’s rendition is a musical comedy, adapted by Fred Carmichael and Samuel French.

Blaine Pickett starred as Harvey Greene in S. Carleton Guptill’s production. In tribute, Pickett, who now lives in Nashville, returned to the playhouse stage Wednesday, reprising his over-the-top, villainous role.

To the audience’s delight, Pickett entered the stage with comedic villain flare, sporting a handlebar mustache and strutting grandly to his sleazy theme music, played by pianist Kathy Fink. He was a source of sidesplitting entertainment throughout the production, clearly reveling in his overtly corny role.

In further tribute to S. Carleton, several members of the Guptill clan took the stage. Michael, who performed in the first production, made a cameo in the opening bar scene.

S. Carlton’s daughter, Martha Gallagher, who originally played Mary Morgan, stepped into the role of Mary’s mother, Fanny. Another daughter, Rebecca Guptill-Miller, who played Mehitabel Cartwright in the original, directed the current production, with her daughter, Katie, taking on her previous role. S. Carleton’s grandsons Isaac Glidden, Conor Guptill and Aram Guptill lent their talents as Sample Switchel, Willie Hammond and Frank Slade.

The Guptills were a riot to watch as they devilishly delivered intentionally overacted, melodramatic performances, reminiscent of the silent film era. Conor Guptill, in particular, was a scene stealer as Willie Hammond, a young squire who falls victim to the “evils” of alcohol and gambling. His exaggerated facial expressions and Elmer Fudd-like stutter never failed to tickle the audience’s funny bone, providing a striking contrast to his beautiful, cultured vocals.

Other, non-Guptill cast standouts included Kelli Leigh Conors (Goldie), Jewel Beth Davis (Mrs. Slade), Greg Bell (Simon Slade) and Jim Sears (Joe Morgan). All hammed it up with uninhibited comic glee. It’s a wonder they didn’t burst out laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of their wonderfully quirky roles.

Opening night of “Ten Nights In A Barroom” was an outlandish combination of Vaudeville and silent film antics that would certainly make Hackmatack’s founder proud. All involved were clearly having fun, and are sure to get even funnier over the next few performances.

April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:

aprilhboyle@yahoo.com

 

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