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After enjoying one of its most successful seasons in recent memory, The Waterworks Players will conclude 2023-24 with the comedy Five Women Wearing the Same Dress. This play also marks the debut of yet another first-time director: Leigh Lunsford, longtime Waterworks actress, board member and current president.  

In a recent interview, she revealed how excited she is to be cutting her directorial teeth on Alan Ball’s irreverent, wickedly funny play in which five bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each for their own reasons, to avoid the ostentatious wedding reception outside.

When asked why she decided to direct a full length play instead of something shorter, like a one-act, Lunsford was quick to respond. 

“No one leaped to direct Five Women, so I volunteered!  I like that it’s a mixture of comedy and drama and that it’s a mostly female cast,” Lunsford said. “I know that there are so many great young female actors in this community that need their talents showcased.”

About the director

Lunsford moved to Farmville in May 2004 to teach mathematics at Longwood University, and immediately began acting with Waterworks.  Her first show was Cabaret that October, directed by Waterworks founder Dudley Sauve.  She has since appeared in almost 50 plays at Waterworks and several other companies, including Hampden -Sydney College Theatre and Longwood University Theatre. Lunsford said she feels fortunate to have worked with many different directors, and believes that this experience has been important in her transition to directing.

“I’ve had so many directors–at last count, nineteen–all with differing styles. So, I can relate to what actors are feeling when the director gives them feedback,” Lunsford said. “It’s hard to single out specific directors, but the ones I’ve done the most shows with are Dudley Sauve and Mary Jo Stockton. I really learned a lot from Dudley early on,” she said, adding that “he taught me now to play a drunk really well.  And I especially enjoyed building my comedy chops in the holiday pantomimes under Mary Jo’s direction.”  

“I’ve learned something valuable from every director I’ve worked with, and hope I can bring these lessons to Five Women.  As with any Waterworks production, it takes a village to put on a show.  I’ve been very fortunate to have Sean Dowse as my production manager and Elijah Logue as my stage manager.  Sean has been a great directing mentor to me, in addition to organizing the crew for this show.  We all believe it is very important to create a positive collaborative environment for the cast and crew.” 

Waterworks Players reflect on prep

Rehearsals for Five Women are going really well, Lunsford said.  

“A lot of actors auditioned, many more than I could cast. My five women (Kolby Logue, Melissa Meinhard, Raine Bence, Marlow Walters, and Sarah Varela) have great chemistry with each other and with the one male actor in the show (Erik Varela),” Lunsford said. “I think the audience will like these characters and relate to them. The play is set in the mid-1990s, and the five bridesmaids are in their twenties and early-to-mid thirties. These characters are real women, dealing with serious issues. Women and men in the audience, especially those who are now in their fifties and sixties, will definitely recognize and relate to these characters.”

Fittingly, Caryn’s Formals and Tuxedos in downtown Farmville is sponsoring Five Women by providing bridesmaids dresses for the women in the cast, and formal wear for the single male actor.  

“It has been fantastic working with Caryn’s on this show,” Lunsford said. “They’ve been very good sports, knowing that all five bridesmaids complain about their dresses as a part of the play.  Caryn’s has done a super job helping us achieve an appropriate look for this show.”

Caryn’s involvement underscores the heartening amount of community support the Waterworks Players has received this season.  In October, Godspell opened to sellout or near-sellout crowds throughout its run.  As it has done since 2019, the Virginia Credit Union’s $500 donation enabled this year’s December panto, Puss In Boots, to maintain its low $5 ticket price.  In February The Vagrant, by local playwright Brett Hursey, was a huge success, as highlighted in the Waterworks Players Facebook blurb: “Proceeds from the Sunday performance were donated to Madaline’s House.  The show was close to sellout, resulting in a donation of $1176.00!  Thank you for helping us make this happen.”  

And in April’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Waterworks Players partnered with Dr. Sarah Hardy’s Hampen-Sydney Southern literature class.  Her students helped with set construction and wood storage, volunteered in the box office, and served as ushers and bartenders.  As a dramaturgy project, they created program content and research posters which were displayed in the Waterworks lobby during Cat’s run.

Max Pietrykowsi, one of Dr. Hardy’s students, crystalized the value of community and theater in his reflection response:  “The partnership with Waterworks has been a transformative experience that has deepened my understanding of the value of community work and the power of community to unite.”

When does this show start?

Five Women Wearing the Same Dress opens on Aug. 2 at 7:30.  Other evening performances will be Aug. 3, 9 and 10.  There will be a Sunday matinee on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m.  For ticket information, consult the Waterworks website, waterworksplayers.org.