Carnelle wants nothing more than to be crowned miss firecracker in the beauty pageant at the towns annual independence day celebration. The burgers are prepped, the brownies are out of the oven, and the miss firecracker contest is about to begin. Firecracker, a beth henley comedy the new york times. Carnelle scott known locally as miss hot tamale is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory. Playing carnelle scott, a twentysomething ole miss desperate for just one positive achievement in. Miss firecracker the town of yazoo city, mississippi, is agog over the annual fourth of july miss firecracker contest, and no one is more obsessed with winning this honor than carnelle scott. Its been called a part of the southern gothic tradition of literature. Carnelle scott known locally as miss hot tamale is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to. Beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, which plays at the rafters theatre in dutcher hall from february 22 through march 3, tells the story of a girl in the small mississippi town of brookhaven named carnelle scott. Carnelle is trying to get into the miss firecracker contest as she hopes it will help her reputation before leaving her. The miss firecracker contest little theatre of virginia beach. She enters the miss firecracker contest, the local 4th of july beauty pageant, and puts her.
Mar 26, 2017 the miss firecracker contest written by beth henley. Apr 16, 2014 the unexpected arrival of carnelles cousin elain, a former miss firecracker contest winner, complicates matters. Act 1, scene 1 as the miss firecracker contest opens, carnelle scott is practicing her talent routine for the upcoming fourth of july beauty pageant in brookhaven, mississippi. Her preparations, however, are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of her cousin elain, a former miss firecracker winner, who recently walked out on her husband. Into this mix steps mac sam scott glenn, one of the men who contributed to carnelles scandalous past. Miss firecracker sparkles at new village arts times of. Academy award nominee holly hunter is sensational as carnelle scott, a catfishfactory worker from mississippi whose rep as the town slut cant. For tickets, call the box office at 301 6179906, or purchase them. This boisterous and bold dark comedy, a true beth henley play, explores human nature through the slightly largerthanlife, and finds earnest humor and satire in many of the same places. Carnelle scott known locally as miss hot tamale is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation. Miss hunter plays carnelle scott of brookhaven, miss.
Stein as carnelle scott, tori sicklick as popeye jackson in a scene from the miss firecracker contest, written by beth henley. It stars holly hunter, mary steenburgen, tim robbins, alfre woodard, and scott glenn. The miss firecracker contest plot summary, character breakdowns, context and. The place is the small mississippi town of brookhaven, the time a few days before the fourth of july. The miss firecracker contest bay tree council for the. Carnelle never achieved the beauty and social status of elain and made up for it by sleeping with most of the young men in town earning herself the. Its heroine, carnelle, is an irrepressible young woman who thinks that winning the local beauty contest will restore her soiled. Academy award nominee holly hunter is sensational as carnelle scott, a catfishfactory worker from mississippi whose rep as the town slut cant stop her dream to win the local miss firecracker. Mac sam mac sam is a local carnie currently peddling balloons at the miss firecracker contest.
Carnelle scott, a hopeful victor in this years competition, is as feverish as the. Jun 29, 2015 the miss firecracker contest plays through sunday, july 12, 2015 at laurel mill playhouse 508 main street, in laurel, md. Both charming and irreverent, the miss firecracker contest is a wistful take on southern beauty culture and the reallife facades it so eloquently symbolizes. Beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, the southern gothic drama on stage at limelight theatre through march 30, boldly dissects traditional 1950s60s small town values. A former lover of carnelles, his magnetic eyes hold a great power over women.
The miss firecracker contest at laurel mill playhouse. The miss firecracker contest tipping point theatre. Carnelle scott is a contestant in this years pagent, in which. Carnelle, who is an orphan, was taken in by her aunt ronelle and raised with her two cousins, elain and delmount. Elains eccentric brother delmount threatens to sell the family homestead and. The miss firecracker contest is set in brookhaven, mississippi during the midst of carnelles attempt to salvage her tarnished reputation as miss hot tamale. The miss firecracker contest by beth henley is new to us, but still goes into the old favorites category. Carnelle isnt happy with her life, so in order to improve herself she enters a local beauty contest, trying to emulate her cousin elains win many years ago. She plans to overcome her past by winning the local fourth of july beauty pageant in the miss firecracker contest, the final east central university theatre production of the academic year. With holly hunter, mary steenburgen, tim robbins, alfre woodard. Its heroine, carnelle, is an irrepressible young woman who thinks that winning the local beauty contest will restore her soiled reputation and make.
Miss firecracker contest a story of unexpected love. Miss firecracker is a 1989 comedy film directed by. Similarly, the miss firecracker contest displays the struggles of women like carnelle, who attempts to reestablish her identity and be accepted by the people around her in a local town competition. Watch miss firecracker streaming online hulu free trial. March 10 march 26, 2017 the miss firecracker contest written by beth henley. In delmont, mississippi, a beauty pageant, the miss firecracker contest, is held every fourth of july. Jennye james embellished red and white big tent backdrop was a perfect display of pageantry that tied in with carnelles dressing room and tent site. Arts and culture editor beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, which plays at the rafters theatre in dutcher hall from february 22 through march 3, tells the story of a girl in the small mississippi town of brookhaven named carnelle scott.
Poignant, daft miss firecracker the new york times. From the author of crimes of the heart, the miss firecracker contest is a southern gothic comedy for which henley is best known. The css production of the miss firecracker contest. The unexpected arrival of carnelles cousin elain, a former miss firecracker contest winner, complicates matters. A delusional southern beauty surrounded by misfits and mental cases tries to build a road to redemption out of a smalltown pageant in ways that are funny but not souldestroying in the miss firecracker contest, a southern gothic play by pulitzer prizewinner beth henley, coming nov. Her reputation is just a bit tarnished shes called miss hot tamale, after all but carnelle scott has a plan to win the admiration of the townsfolk in her small mississippi community. Jul 28, 2011 academy award nominee holly hunter is sensational as carnelle scott, a catfishfactory worker from mississippi whose rep as the town slut cant stop her dream to win the local miss firecracker. A scene from the miss firecracker contest by beth henley, directed by abby illig. As are most of henleys works, this play is set in a small southern town.
Footlight players provide bit of sparkle to the miss. The miss firecracker contest beth henley the miss firecracker contest by beth henley the play. The miss firecracker contest wins with laughs and drama. The tale of carnelle scott, a young woman with bright red hair, who dreams of escaping her humdrum exis tence in rural mississippi. Few think she can win, even her closest friends and relatives e. The miss firecracker contest runs through june 29 at new village arts theatre in carlsbad performances are thursdaysaturday at 8 p. He is quite the ladies man but has always carried a special torch for carnelle. The miss firecracker contest plays through sunday, july 12, 2015 at laurel mill playhouse 508 main street, in laurel, md. Sugar loaf a screened tent on a balmy summer night on the lycian centre grounds in sugar loaf is the perfect setting to watch beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, which takes place in. Jul 24, 1988 in comes carnelle s other cousin, elain, a former miss firecracker with memories of riding on a float and wearing a crown on her head. The miss firecracker contest ends with carnelle, popeye, and delmount watching the independence day pyrotechnics from a perch atop the tent where the contest was held.
Jennye james embellished red and white big tent backdrop was a perfect display of pageantry that tied in with carnelle s dressing room and tent site. Jul 20, 2019 at age 17, elain won the title of miss firecracker in the local beauty contest and carnelle never forgot the sight of her beloved cousin riding atop the fourth of july float crowned in glory. In the case of the miss firecracker contest, there are numerous references to incidents such as aunt ronelles hairy illness, the bizarre ways carnelles uncle and father died, popeyes eyes and her frog costumes, delmounts bloody dreams, the mahoney sisters deformed kittens, and so on. The miss firecracker contest brings quirks and comedy to. Carnelle isnt happy with her life, so in order to improve herself she enters a local beauty contest, trying to emulate her cousin elains win many.
Miss firecracker contest theatre department past productions. Janine oneill leaves everything shes got on the stageincluding her bloomersin the adobe theaters production of the miss firecracker contest directed by philip j. This hilarious comedy begins in a small mississippi town of brookhaven a few days before the fourth of july. Miss firecracker holly hunter reprises her stage role in beth henleys play the miss firecracker contest as carnelle, a former goodtime girl whose dream is to win the local miss firecracker.
A fading beauty, elain has abandoned her rich husband and two. The miss firecracker contest has a lot of fun playing off the conventions of southern gothic literature typified by writers like tennessee williams and carson mccullers. May 28, 1984 miss hunter plays carnelle scott of brookhaven, miss. Carnelle scott, a selfconscious orphan raised by her aunt, desperately wants this july 4th to bring her a chance at a new life as this years crowned miss firecracker, if only to remove the stain of her other title, the towns. Kim lazarus monologue from the miss firecracker contest winner at north perth festival duration. At age 17, elain won the title of miss firecracker in the local beauty contest and carnelle never forgot the sight of her beloved cousin riding atop the fourth of july float crowned in glory.
The miss firecracker contest fort hays state university. Carnelle scott from the miss firecracker contest summary. In comes carnelles other cousin, elain, a former miss firecracker with memories of riding on a float and wearing a crown on her head. Carnelle janine oneill, known locally as miss hot tamale, wants to leave town.
Carnelle scott, a selfconscious orphan raised by her aunt, desperately wants this july 4th to bring her a chance at a new life as this years crowned miss firecracker, if only to. In henleys hands, these elements are used for comic. Carnelle scott known locally as miss hot tamale is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished. The miss firecracker contest at laurel mill playhouse dc. Adapted by beth henley from her own play the miss firecracker contest, miss firecracker finds hunter reprising her stage role. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for carnelle scott from the miss firecracker contest. Known throughout town as miss hot tamale, shes out.
The miss firecracker contest brings quirks and comedy to mu. Carnelle is trying to get into the miss firecracker contest as she hopes it will help her reputation before leaving her small town roots. Act ii focused on the actual miss firecracker contest with a complete changeup of the set. In the case of the miss firecracker contest, there are numerous references to incidents such as aunt ronelles hairy illness, the bizarre ways carnelle s uncle and father died, popeyes eyes and her frog costumes, delmounts bloody dreams, the mahoney sisters deformed kittens, and so on. The miss firecracker contest south camden theatre company. Carnelle hunter, an oversexed hellion who was orphaned as a young child, has always played second fiddle to her beautiful, older, southern belle cousin a past miss firecracker contest winner. Jul 21, 2010 sugar loaf a screened tent on a balmy summer night on the lycian centre grounds in sugar loaf is the perfect setting to watch beth henleys the miss firecracker contest, which takes place in. But caught up in the wacky humor and engaging performances of tipping points actors, you might wonder how the play fits in that genre. Mar 14, 2017 the miss firecracker contest has a lot of fun playing off the conventions of southern gothic literature typified by writers like tennessee williams and carson mccullers. Few think she can win, but carnelle sees a win as a ticket to escape her small town. Playing carnelle scott, a twentysomething ole miss desperate for just one positive achievement in her so far glum life, oneill excels in her. Miss firecracker this is a delightful over the top crazy characterization of a small town beauty pageant held in yazoo city. At age 17, elain won the title of miss firecracker in the local beauty contest and carnelle never forgot the sight of her beloved cousin riding atop. Mcdavid exudes all the exuberance and insecurity the character desperately needs, filling nicely a young woman trying to.
Jan 20, 2014 kim lazarus monologue from the miss firecracker contest winner at north perth festival duration. Miss firecracker contest ending theatre season at ecu. The film, set in yazoo city, mississippi, was written by pulitzer prize winning playwright beth henley and is based on her 1984 play, the miss firecracker contest. Carnelle scott is rehearsing furiously for the miss firecracker contesthoping that a victory will salvage her tarnished reputation and allow her to leave town in a blaze of glory.
Why representative louis pooleys going to be here this very year to put the crown on the winners head. As the miss firecracker contest opens, carnelle scott is practicing her. Why, representative louis pooleys gonna be here this very year to put the crown on the winners head. The miss firecracker contest little theatre of virginia. The miss firecracker contest is a twoact play that was originally. The miss firecracker contest is a play by beth henley that tells the story of a young woman named carnelle scott living in brookhaven, mississippi in the early 1980s. It is set in a time before cell phones, bigbox stores, and spanx. Carnelle holly hunter enters the miss firecracker beauty pageant which her. Carnelle has lost most of her family, has only an old house her aunt left her, a somewhat questionable reputation, and the dream to be named miss firecracker at the.
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