Marvin's Room
by Scott McPherson

Directed by Monroe Dewberry

Bessie, who has been caring for her invalid aunt and her father who is helpless after suffering a stroke, discovers she has leukemia. While this does not seem like a subject for comedy, this warm-hearted play really has some funny moments. Laughter is good medicine in this caregiving household. Bessie’s sister, Lee, who has been out-of-touch for years, arrives with her two sons in the hopes that one of them might be a bone-marrow match for Bessie. For Lee the idea of devoting her life to caring for helpless aging relatives would be wasting it.

One reason Lee doesn’t want to take over the caregiving for her father is that she has plenty of trouble trying to be a mother to her two sons, particularly Hank who has been committed to a mental hospital because he burned down the family home. She tells the hospital psychiatrist "Hank is something I cannot control, so what is the point of my visiting?" While Bessie will not find a cure for her leukemia, an important start on healing does occur in the play as Bessie helps both Hank and Lee to care for each other.

Director ........................................................... Monroe Dewberry
Assistant Director ............................................ Molly Watkins

Cast
Bessie .............................................................. Karen Howard
Dr. Wally......................................................... Jim Sisson
Ruth ................................................................ Rose Sisson
Bob, Marvin & Goofy..................................... Jim Horton
Lee ................................................................. Pamela Buhner
Dr. Charlotte................................................... Jenny Edwards
Hank .............................................................. Chris Tyer
Charlie ............................................................ Josh Horton
Director .......................................................... Melissa Fenwick

Crew
Properties ....................................................... Melissa Piker
Costumes ....................................................... Nancy Vance
Set Dressing .................................................. Pattye Archer & Lyle Tate
Set Design ..................................................... Robby Schucchi
Set Construction ............................................ Riley Moore
Light Design ................................................. Stephen Cunetto
Lights & Sound ............................................. Steven Mayo
House Manager ............................................. Angel Ray
Box Office.................................................... Marsha Williams
Publicity ....................................................... Angel Ray
Poster Design............................................... Pattye & Stephen

Set Crew ................................................... Riley Moore, Millie Moore, Glen James, Jim Sisson, Chris Tyer, Tony Daniel, Dom Cunetto, Wayne Durst, Monroe Dewberry, Molly Watkins, Pattye Archer, Lyle Tate, Stephen Cunetto, Robby Scucchi

Special Thanks
FlexSteel • Oktibbeha County Hospital •Delta Center Stage, Greenville, MS
Sullivan's Office Supply •Diversified Health Services • City Bagel Cafe
Rick's Furniture • MSU Department of Communication • Giggleswick
Laird Clinic and Everett McKibben • John Larkin •Robert and Joan Wilson
Joe and Mary Tkack • Nan Tate • Breck Young