February 24 - March 19, 2006

Director: Barry Hoffman

Silver Spring Stage presents the spine tingling classic on the nature of evil Bad Seed by Maxwell Anderson. The play, directed by Barry Hoffman and produced by Käthe Park, is the suspenseful story of a young mother’s suspicion that her seemingly innocent young daughter has something to do with a young boy’s tragic death. Bad Seed will run weekends February 24 to March 19, 2006.

Where does evil originate? How does it affect an ordinary family and community? These questions are at the heart of Bad Seed. William March’s (an Alabama born writer who was a World War One hero) million-selling 1954 book was so popular it was quickly adapted to the stage by the legendary playwright Maxwell Anderson (Winterset, High Tor, What Price Glory, Anne of the Thousand Days). Coincidentally, Bad Seed would be the last work of March and nearly the last work of Anderson. Bad Seed opened on Broadway on December 8, 1954 starring Nancy Kelly (Tony Award for Best Actress), Patricia McCormack and Eileen Heckart. All three reprised their roles in the 1956 film and received Oscar nominations. Heckart won a Golden Globe Award for the distraught mother of the drowned boy that starts the story of how a sweet and beloved child could commit heinous acts of violence. The quaint period setting belies a very contemporary question on the genetic nature of personality. March was inspired by the real-life careers of serial killers. Whether camp or classic, Bad Seed is certain to entertain.

The scene is a small Southern town where Colonel Kenneth Penmark (Gregory Mangiapane) lives with his young wife Christine (Annette Kalicki) and their daughter, Rhoda (Natalie Perez-Duel). On the surface, Rhoda is charming, full of old-fashioned graces, loved by her parents, and admired by all her elders. In their apartment building upstairs lives the eccentric and lively Monica Breedlove (Millie Ferrara) and her bachelor brother Emory (Ed Silverstein). Rhoda befriends the apartment building janitor Leroy (Roman Gusso), but he suspects that Rhoda is not what she seems. Mysteriously, one of Rhoda's schoolmates drowns at a picnic. Christine receives a visit from the principal of Rhoda’s school Miss Fern (Christie Walser) expressing concern. The boy’s parents (Erica Drezek as Mrs. Daigle and Mitch Hanks as Mr. Daigle) pay an emotional call to Christine. Mrs. Daigle tries to get more information about her son's death, because she believes Rhoda knows more than she is telling. The penmanship medal, that Rhoda strongly felt she deserved, is missing and Rhoda was the last to see their son alive. Christine begins to have an uneasy feeling about the incident and calls on her father Richard Bravo (Itzy Friedman) and mystery writer Reginal Tasker (Jack Wassell) for support and help. Another suspicious death occurs and Christine’s fear is heightened. Soon, she learns the true nature of her daughter to the audience’s surprise.

The production team includes Tammi Gardner (Assistant Director/Stage Manager), Rachel Gar-El (Assistant Director), Roger MacDonald (Set Design), Bill Strein(Lighting Design), David Steigerwald (Sound Design), and John Buckley (Master Carpenter).