Talley’s Folley

An interesting script, natural direction, and experienced actors carried the recent production of “Talley’s Folly”. The Playmakers organization produced the romantic comedy February 13 through 18, 2002.

Starring Joe Sturgeon, drama teacher, and Ginny Lee, senior, “Talley’s Folly” offered laughs, complications, misunderstandings, fears and secrets in only 97 minutes.

“Folly” also offered limited seating, high temperatures, and sometimes frustrating dialogue. Langford Wilson’s script told the story of a 40-something Jewish accountant, Matt Friedman, from St. Louis and the 31 year old nurses maid, Sally Talley, from the small town of Lebanon, Mo. The story, as Sturgeon’s character Matt states, “is more of a waltz.”

The play covers one evening, July 4, 1944, in Lebanon, Mo. More specifically, it takes place in the Talley’s folly, or boathouse. Matt begins the story with an introduction, the story he tells though, does not match Sally’s view of the relationship.

Having met the previous year, Matt returns to the small town to propose to the woman who has been on his mind ever since. However, this is a more difficult task than it seems.

The waltz begins quickly, with references to a confrontation at Sally’s home between Matt and her family. Sturgeon then slows the dance down, and confronts