The Mystery on 34th Street at the Hickory Community Theatre

It was a good, workmanlike presentation for a community theatre. But more mysteries occurred on 34th Street last night than miracles. One mystery was to wonder why the person who adapted this play for the presentation took so long to properly introduce the guy who would be Santa's defense attorney, and the "friend" of the lead actress. He was one of the main characters, but he began as just a fellow worker at Macy's and had to kind of elbow his way in to his role. He did very well in both parts.

Another one of the Mysteries on 34th Street, was the lead actress. She had perhaps the pivotal role in the play since the action always came back to her, and it had to wait on her lead. This role seems to call out for a dynamic personality, one with appropriated gestures and a satisfyingly loud voice of command. For an aspiring community theatre actress she was good. But still, I carried the impression that I was watching an actress playing a role. She was not the character she played. She was not performing THE role that was the only reason she had been placed on the earth, and I did not get the impression that she was engaging in an act of creation herself.

But THE REAL MYSTERY was the actor who really stood out and carried the play over some of its tricky moments, and who was clearly having fun playing his role, and who BROUGHT MAGIC IN to the evening's performance. And he was somebody I couldn't identify from the cast of characters. He played the role of the "city boss" and the lead postman. It was fun to watch him. I will get his name and get it in here. We wanted to vote for him, since we had a ballot, but couldn't find him listed there either.

Mark Atkins played Mr. Shellhammer well, and he seemed to be enhancing that role into new dimensions as it unfolded. I bet his wife has to put him in a decompression chamber for an hour or two after he gets home.

The Defense Attorney, Brian Plemmons, seemed to almost be playing himself, he appeared to be a natural guy, who besides seeming to be an all around good guy, was a friend, and a man with integrity (in spite of being a lawyer!), and seemed to pick the play up and carry it around all by himself from time to time.

I saw the HCT performance of "The Producers" and the amazing "Doubt". Not every performance can be that incredibly good, but they offer inspiration for all performers and motivation for the members. There was magic in those great presentations, and the act of creation was also there, as the actors helped each of the audience members take part IN that act of creation amd everybody in that theatre grew and developed into something different than they were at the beginning. This play, about the 34th Street event, is a fun thing, and designed to cheer people who are already happy. And it did well in that role.

Frankie and Johnny's in Hickory, NC

While racing across Google Earth the other day, looking for something else, I accidentally hit upon an unlikely comment about a restaurant in Hickory. It said that this restaurant had gyro's just like the ones they had recently eaten in Athens. Wow! OK, that did it. I had to take them up on THAT.

The next day I went down to the place. Its name is Frankie & Johnny's. They bill themselves as "Home of the Real Deal Reuben", and feature "Authentic Philly's and Gyro's, Nathan's Hot Dogs, N.Y. Cheesecakes and Hot and Cold Subs and Wraps." I got a gyro, had it wrapped up and took it home to work and eat.

So how was it? It was good. Very good. As good as the ones I had in Athens a couple of years ago? Well, yes. Of course you have to understand that the bread was not fresh out of an Athens' bakery, and that Europe does not care for standardization when it comes to preparing and eating FOOD. Every place has its own way, or at least its own twist to add.  So when you go to Greece you will eat a lot of gyros, usually for lunch, and they will all be a little bit different from each other. Plus you can get lamb, pork, beef, and other meat in the sandwiches over there. Usually, our gyros in Greece also had three or four french-fried potatoes inside the sandwich. Frankie & Johnny's have only lamb gyros, and their french fries are in a separate container and are just so-so, but it's hard to get really good fries anywhere in the States.

Frankie and Johnny's passed its first test, so now - on to the second. Hmmmm. Let's see shall I make that one a Philly or a Nathan's - or a Real Deal Reuben? Hope to see you there! It's at 1509 29th Ave. Dr. NE, or in the Sandy Ridge Shopping Center.

AND . . . Since this initial experiment, I did return, this time having a Real Deal Reuben.  Fabulous.  Loved the swirled rye bread, slightly toasted sauerkraut, and the rest . . .?  Ummmmmmmmm.