There goes Vandy’s neighborhood

When folks from a Podunk town in the country move next door to a posh woman in a quaint Mississippi cul-de-sac, trouble soon follows in Vandebilt Catholic High School’s production of Gary Ray Stapp’s “Birds of a Feather.”

VCHS theatre director Tami Ledet said “Birds of a Feather” is a milder adaptation of Stapp’s “Love Thy Neighbor.” Both are about a curious, judgmental homeowner who is consumed with anxiety over her latest next-door neighbors.

“She doesn’t want them to be terrible neighbors,” Ledet said.

However, her worst nightmares are realized when the “hill folk” pull up to the house next door in their “Beverly Hillbillies” style vehicles, packed with plastic pink flamingos to decorate the front yard.

“Leona Crump is just livid,” Ledet explains. “She just can’t believe that the town’s real estate agent would allow people like the Hambefferschmidt’s move into her neighborhood.”

The initial challenge, the director said, was casting the show.

“At first glance, I found it difficult to cast the play,” she said. “Auditions were held and the best (students) were picked for call backs.

“Putting the pieces together was like putting together a puzzle.”

Leona Crump (Stephanie Alevizon), the high society star of the show, was the toughest to cast, according to Ledet.

“Leona’s character is very emotional,” she said. “The person playing the role has to be able to capture all of her emotions and portray them to the audience.”

Ledet’s initial plan was to audition several veteran actors in her search for Leona; however, she eventually settled on auditioning eighth graders instead. Alevizon was a perfect match.

“Stephanie has all the emotions to be Leona,” Ledet said. “When I first heard her read a few lines, I knew instantly that I had made the right choice.”

For her part, Alevizon said the “character wasn’t that hard to get. I love the way Leona is the exact opposite of me. I can turn the character on and off.”

Leona’s adversary n Gafina Hambefferschmidt (Abigail Yesso) n was the easiest to cast. Ledet said Yesso, an 11th grader at Vandy, impressed her during auditions.

“Abby’s quick wit made her perfect for Gafina,” the director said. “She came into auditions but couldn’t stay for the whole thing. She gave us a hearty, ‘Hi, ya’ll,’ and I immediately thought ‘Gafina.’”

Yesso is no newcomer to the stage. “I’ve been doing plays since kindergarten,” she said. “This character is a lot of fun. I can just go on stage and put it out there.”

“Birds of a Feather” features a blend of extreme characters, which Ledet promises will keep the audience laughing from beginning to end.

“You’ll definitely laugh your head off,” she said. “I want the audience to leave the play with their sides hurting from all the laughter.”

The VCHS Theatre is hosting “Birds of a Feather” in the school’s cafeteria Jan. 7-8 at 7 p.m., and Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults. Concessions will also be sold.

Advance tickets are available by calling Vandebilt Catholic (985) 876-2551.

For more information, visit www.vandebiltcatholic.org/vandebilttheatre.html.