By Jo Watts

The talented trinity of theater has once again come up with a winner at Playhouse Smithville.  Matt Torres plays guitar, sings, accompanies the other singers and directs the first live band to appear on the Playhouse stage. His parents, April and john daniels have written and directed the cabaret style show which opened last week, in Smithville. This hilarious and nostalgic trip back to the 1950s will reacquaint you (if you are old enough) with the birth of rock and roll, Edward R. Murrow, the Cold War and – remember CONALRAD?  Some of the younger members of the cast have had to be educated in songs such as “Johnny B. Goode” “Heartbreak Hotel” and most of them have never questionedwhether or not God made honky tonk angels.

Both shows ran about 10 minutes over because the actors had to wait for the sold-out audiences to stop laughing so they could continue. You’ll consider your admission of $20 for dinner and the show well spent. I happen to know because I, along with my husband and granddaughter, Bonnie, are in the cast and we all crack up with laughter at every rehearsal. Trust me – as all my friends know, everything I say is true – or could happen.

The remaining shows are Feb. 10 and 11 and Valentines’ Day, Feb. 14.  Playhouse Smithville is at 110 South Main St. in Smithville; the next to last building on the east (left) side; you can’t miss it.  The theater is small, so I recommend that you get your reservations in advance by going to www.playhousesmithville.com or calling (512) 360-7397.  If you don’t wish to enjoy the pre-show dinner – gourmet hot dogs catered by world famous Frankendog at 6:30 p.m. – you can come for the show only at 7:30 p.m. And if you have any doubts about seeing “Chrome Crusin’ Caberet 50’s”, just picture six grown men playing cupids dressed in long johns. That ought to get you there!

BFAG

The Bastrop Fine Arts Guild was asked recently to provide work for a display at the Austin Bergstrom Airport. Eight BFAG artists responded with works portraying hope, inspiration and reflections on the recent wildfires in our county. As the exhibit is in the departure lounge and can be view only by ticketed passengers, art curator for the airport, Matt Coldwell, invited the artists for a special “backstage” tour.  If you are flying to or from ABIA anytime between now and the end of March, look for the exhibit in a glass case right before descending the escalator to baggage claim.