LIBERTY — A new musical with deep ties to Liberty is debuting at the Civic Auditorium next weekend, written and directed by Pickens County Councilman Roy Costner.
Fried Apple Pies centers around real events involving Costner’s in laws — although he said some family dynamics and names have been changed to allow for continued “comfortable family gatherings …”
“Basically in 2011 I decided to write this play and it’s all about my wife’s side of the family, Geneva and Frank Glouse — also known as Granny and Pop,” said Costner in an interview. “At 4:30 every morning, Granny would get up and make fried apple pies. Everyday.”
Costner said Geneva’s pies, which she gave away to people in the area, were her way of “paying it forward.”
“It became almost a joke,” he said while laughing. “I would ask myself why am I taking all these pies to people I don’t even know?”
Costner said when Geneva passed away several years ago, three different pastors who all spoke at her funeral each mentioned “Granny’s famous fried apple pies.”
The play was originally a single act and lasted around 45 minutes, Costner said. It was first performed at Costner’s church before a second act was added and the play enjoyed a successful run at The Foothills Playhouse in Easley.
“It takes place over Easter,” said Costner. “It’s about salvation, family ties and what it means to be a Christian.”
The play, which Costner describes as a “Christian/musical/comedy/drama — with a Sixth Sense sort of twist” has six songs performed by the actors and features props and hung artwork from the “real” Granny and Pop’s home.
Costner plays one of the brothers.
“In the family, Geneva and Frank had two sons and two daughters,” he said. “But I wrote it that there were three brothers. Chris Cooper and Jeromy Arnett play the other two — and wow. You should hear Chris sing. Amazing.”
When asked about his “directorial debut,” Costner waved it away. “I’m only doing it because no one else will,” he said. “I would much rather not be directing it because it can be tricky when you’re in the play too.”
He said that the cast has helped the play evolve from the original script and that the end result was a collaborative effort from everyone.
“I have been very open since the beginning to making changes in the script,” Costner said. “We all want the same thing — a quality production.”
Fried Apple Pies will be staged May 5 and May 6 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on May 7 at 3 p.m. at the Liberty Civic Auditorium.
Tickets are $5 at the door with all proceeds going to Meals on Wheels and other charitable organizations.