'Divided' is simply a treat; Vegstock was delicious

Theatre/'verv/'s "Simply Divided"

Charleston's theatre season is getting warmed up like a buttery, flaky, buttermilk biscuit with Theatre/'verv/'s production of "Simply Divided," a new play by Jeff Lovett. Directed by J.C. Conway, "Simply Divided" is set in Sissy Mae's Simply Delicious Diner in aptly named Simply, Ala. The lack of jobs has created a disparate sex ratio of 2,000 men to 200 women. The heat in Simply is rising with the arrival of the handsome high-school English teacher, Gabe (Boogie Dabney), and the Simply Delicious Diner is ready to pop like a meat thermometer when the women turn the place into a wrestling ring.

The script's quips and friendly banter acquaint the audience with the folk of Simply and their personal histories, including Ray (Dick Latham), Sissy Mae's only regular customer and apparently the only man left in Simply. His obsessive-compulsive disorder kept him from getting past first base with D'Ellen in high school and he explains his current marital status despite the town's man shortage. The town's population increases by one with the unexpected return of Earl (Jerry Squires), Sissy Mae's husband, who left town to work at the Toyota plant out of town with the rest of Simply's male population.

The cast is solid with the delivery of their lines, but awkward and nervous, perhaps with opening-night jitters. Dabney and McGinn ground the show with their sure character development and performances. Dabney is as subtle as McGinn is brash.

"Simply Divided" runs through August 28, 8:30, at the South of Broadway Theatre Company, 1080 E. Montague St., Park Circle. Tickets are $15.

Charleston Grill's Vegstock 2010

In honor of Woodstock's 41st anniversary, the Charleston Grill's Chef Michelle Weaver and Sommelier Rick Rubel threw a decadent seven-course vegetarian and wine pairing feast of Romanesque proportions last Thursday. "Vegstock 2010: An Evening of Peas, Love, and Wine" began by ushering excited guests into the Lounge at the Charleston Place to share gorgeous, quirky cocktails such as crystal clear Bloody Marys and "sassy" gin cucumber delights. Fellow diners made fast friends at the introductions of the restaurant's ever charming General Manager Mickey Bakst, who entertained the crowd with raucous stories about why he was unable to attend the original New York music festival. Once everyone was present and properly giddy we were off, led past sultry jazz notes of the Quentin Baxter Ensemble, to the cozy back room of the Charleston Grill.

After introductions from Weaver, Rubel and Bakst the hyped up crowd applauded in anticipation of the first course of watermelon, cucumber and sheep's milk feta salad served with a deliciously light Rose.

Things only got better from there.

Diners that first joked about the absence of carnivorous bites (almost 95% of attendees at the sold out dinner were non-vegetarian!) were soon lulled into a cooing coma of culinary bliss as they tasted heirloom tomatoes with 25-year-old Balsamic vinegar, melt in your mouth potato gnocchi and the most beautiful chantrelles in Farroto. Rubel delightfully recounted the history of each vineyard while generously filling our glasses as guests compared stories about their interest in attending a vegetarian dinner. Many chirped about the health benefits of vegetables, but most were simply curious to try something different.

Different it was. While some felt the span of courses bordered on a range that was too wide for one menu, I found it a perfect example of the world of vegetarian cuisine. Once thought of as at best a side dish, the marvelous dinner was a great eye-opener about the options one experiences when exploring epicurean options.