Spring rings its bells to the sound of musicals as “The Spitfire Grill,” directed by Rick Mokler, makes its way to City College’s annual ensemble production.
“The Spitfire Grill” is about new beginnings and forgiveness. If you’ve been waiting for a second wind at life, it will inspire an enduring spirit.
The audience may find the grill to be more than just a restaurant, but a place where the human spirit takes shape.
“The story of forgiveness is a lovely theme considering the person we’re most frequently hard on is ourself,” said Mokler, associate professor of theater arts.
The story begins when the main character Percy Talbot is released from prison.
She comes to the small town of Gilead, Wis. with the hopes of starting her life over. Talbot develops a friendship with Hannah Ferguson, the local owner of the Spitfire Grill.
As friendships are formed, Talbot not only learns what life in a small town is like but the true meaning of starting over.
“I love the music, and we’ve got a great cast of wonderful singers,” Mokler said. “They all sing like gangbusters.”
Mokler has assembled a cast of well-known community actors and students for this production. “It’s an intimate cast. They all know each other and have been around forever.” Mokler added.
Julie Anne Ruggieri, who plays Talbot, is a former City College student who grew up in Carpinteria. She has been acting in shows for the college since 1992, most recently in last semester’s production of “Gunfighter,” directed by Katie Laris.
“It’s an amazing piece, and it speaks to so many different people on different levels,” Ruggieri said.
Margaret Prothero, one of the seven cast members, has been teaching English skills at City College for eight years, and went through the acting program, including studies with Pope Freeman and Mokler.
“This has been a great experience because the cast was so intimate, and everyone is so seasoned,” Prothero said.
As production chairman of the theatre arts department, Mokler makes “The Spitfire Grill” his forty-third directorial assignment for City College.
Previously, he taught in Santa Barbara area junior high and high schools for 17 years. He was honored as a teacher of the year and recognized in the congressional record for “Contributions to High School Theatre.”
“(Rick) is an amazing director,” said Ruggieri. “He truly directs us every night.”
“The Spitfire Grill” started out as a film by Lee David Zlotoff starring Ellen Burstyn, which won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival in 1996.
The movie was adopted into a musical performance in 2001, with songs written by James Valcq and lyrics by Fred Alley.
City College’s theatre group production of “The Spitfire Grill” is the Central Coast premiere of the play.
USA Today called “Spitfire Grill,” “An abundance of warmth, spirit and goodwill and some of the most engaging and instantly infectious melodies heard in an original musical in some time.”
