Double-Duty for Hollins Festival

The Hollins-Mill Mountain Festival of New Works continues to surprise, delight, and go beyond the call of duty. Last night's performance of Ben Abbott's "Grave Mistakes" was simply delightful light entertainment. It is a ghost story with a romantic twist that doesn't disappoint.

Like the other plays in the festival, "Grave" is written, produced, performed by people in or affiliated with the Hollins Playwriting graduate program and Abbott was forced to do double duty in last night's performance when lead actor Michael Mansfield took sick. Mansfield also plays the lead in next week's "The Dragon Butcher," so the decision was to save him from wearing out. Abbott got the news that he was taking the stage for his play at 4 p.m. yesterday, 3.5 hours before curtain time. He was simply flawless in the part. You can likely give some of the credit to director Amy Lytle.

He wasn't the only actor who had a busy day. Richie Cannaday, who played Ray, was a part of the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference (across campus) during the day.

The crowd size was impressive for this play, produced while Hollins' students were out of school for their interterm break. 

"Grave Mistakes" plays for its final fling today at 2 p.m. "The Dragon Butcher" finishes the festival next weekend (Jan. 26-29 with Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2) and tickets are $10.