ROCKPORT — Rockport’s Everyman Repertory Theater scores with The Trip To Bountiful opening Saturday, April 6, at the Rockport Opera House. Curtain is 7 p.m. and the show has performance dates through April 21.

Written by Horton Foote, The Trip to Bountiful tells the story of an aging widow Mother Carrie Watts, (played by Andrea Itkin) who lives in Dallas, Texas, with her son Ludie Watts, (played by David Troup) and her not so friendly daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae Watts (played by Jen Hodgson).

Carrie dreams of a simpler place in Bountiful, Texas, where she lived and raised her family and where her childhood friend lives. Living in a three-room apartment with her bossy daughter-in-law constantly demanding she turn over her monthly pension check, she decides it’s time to run away and return to Bountiful to get peace of mind and visit her friend.

While traveling on the bus she encounters a young woman (Thelma) traveling alone, who elicits memories of her youth. She encounters a kind sheriff who has been looking for her at the request of the Dallas Police Department and her son and who decides to drive her out to bountiful and her old homestead. She finds out as well the her childhood friend had died and was buried just the day before her arrival.

The play is considered Foote’s greatest work, and the film adaptation won Geraldine Page her first Oscar for the role as Mother Watts.

Director Laurel Johnson, of Northport, is making her directorial debut with the Everyman Repertory Theater with this production. Johnson is from Maine and moved to New York at age 14. She returned 10 years ago and said it feels great to be back home.

“The play is set in 1953,” said Johnson. “Carrie’s time is short and she has one wish, to go back to Bountiful, Texas. The play exemplifies the isolation of the elderly. It’s really more about getting back to nature and serenity then going home. In the beginning the scenes are filled with traffic sounds. In the end the air is filled with the sounds of birds.”

Johnson did a good job in her directorial debut.

“I loved doing this play,” said Johnson. “It’s been a wonderful experience. I’m an actress by trade and I was dying to be on the stage.”

Poignant at times, heart felt at others. The cast does an excellent job of bringing Mother Watts story to life.

The cast for The Trip To Bountiful includes Carrie Watts, Andrea Itkin; Ludie Watts, David Troup; Jessie Mae Watts, Jen Hodgson; Thelma, Abby Norman; Houston Ticket Man, Randall Merrifield. Harrison Ticket Man, Paul Hodgson; and Sheriff, David Greenham.

Additional members include director, Laural Johnson; stage manager, Keith McKenzie; producer, Ellen Barnes; set design, Ken Barnes; lighting design, Brandon Koons; sound design, Steven Bird and costume design, Jessica Manbeck.

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