'The Me Nobody Knows'

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

“The Me Nobody Knows” has no plot line. Instead, the story combines the thoughts, ideals, anger and sometimes the joy and ambition of teenagers who were in and around New York ghettos in the late 1960s.

The Flagler Playhouse recently transformed its stage into the streets of these ghettos for the set of its rendition of the production, which opened Friday, April 29.

The play, which originally debuted off-Broadway in 1970 before making its way to the Broadway stage, coincidently shared billing with the opening of the Tony Award-winning play, “Borstal Boy,” staring local director Bruce Heighley.

Heighley took over directing at the playhouse when John Sbordone stepped down.

“It’s very hard to believe that with an area like Palm Coast, with Flagler and Bunnell, that there is so much talent among these young people,” Heighley said. “They just are so good. It does your heart good, and they’re interested in it ,and they want to entertain and I think they’ve given a really true interpretation ... They’ve updated it and captured the essence of how youth and teenagers reacted and behaved in those days.”

The cast of 12 speaking characters and four chorus members, ranges in age from 10 to 34, some of whom have never before performed on stage.

“It’s still amateur because it’s community theater, but it’s more than a high school play,” said Jackie Nelson, 20, who plays the role of Melba in the production. “I found it to be more of a professional standing. That’s what I liked.”

“The Me Nobody Knows” continues until May 15, with 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday performances, and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees, at the Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell.

The ticket cost is $20 for adults and $12 for students. For more information, call the box office at 586-0773 or visit www.flaglerplayhouse.com.

To view the full photo essay of the production, click here.