What's the only difference between community theatre and professional theatre? The professionals get paid. The community actors of Concord Player's The Spitfire Grill prove once again that passion and cooperation are just as important as big budgets and billboards. I had the chance to see the players in action both in the WERS studio and onstage at the 51 Walden Theatre in Concord, Massachusetts.

First, on Standing Room Only, the ensemble: Shonna McEachern, Valerie Eaton, Sara Telford, Eric Dwinnells, Sean McLaughlin, Liz Bishop, and Tom Lawrence along with director Denis Fitzpatrick and music director Mario Cruz gave us a taste of what's cookin' at the Spitfire Grill. When asked what drew director Denis Fitzpatrick to the show, he replied, "I knew the film and used it as a teacher in the classroom. I heard the Concord Players was doing a musical version, which I was not familiar with, went out and got the script, bought the CD, and loved it. Applied for the job, and got it."

To tell truth, I had not heard much of the score, so I had the advantage of being completely unbiased with the eagerness of a child sitting in a theatre seat flipping through the playbill waiting for the show to start. I love to hear new works even if they are just new to me. The Spitfire Grill is relatively new, although it was based on 1996 movie, there have been a few changes made. Fitzpatrick explains, "The play is relocated from Gilead, Maine to Gilead, Wisconsin and I will tell you that the musical ends on a happier note than the film." The show had mild success when it ran Off-Broadway in 2001 with Liz Calloway.

The title "The Spitfire Grill" is in reference to the name of the restaurant where the protagonist, Percy played by Shonna McEachern, comes to work after she gets out of prison. What follows that inciting incident is not a complicated, twisting plot but a heartfelt look at what makes up human relationships. As with most musicals, the focus of the plot centers on an outsider who fights for acceptance and understanding in their new home. What sets The Spitfire Grill apart from other musicals at present is its honesty. A large majority of that warm, true feeling comes from the music by James Valcq and lyrics by Fred Alley under beautiful interpretation from Mario Cruz. The other portion beats in the hearts of actors. When they were in the studio I quickly got the feeling that I was in a room with hard-working, humble people and then when I saw the production my feelings were proven true. Those same qualities they possessed in person came forth in their characters, and resulted in a highly naturalistic, grounded performance.

The show is about its characters and the interaction they have with one another on any given day so the key to a successful go at the show is good actors who can sing. Concord Players has good actors who can really sing. Now I don't know if this was a directing choice by Fitzpatrick when he was casting, but Shonna McEachern's voice is completely different than anyone's onstage; pegged as the "outsider," it is perfect for her to have a different singing style than the rest of the cast! McEachern sings and speaks with clarity, assurance, and a bit of street smart attitude that really set her character apart from the town of Gilead. She is likeable and knows how to give and take onstage. She shares the stage with a cast of six other players who combine their voices to sound like a cast double that size. The men of the cast lend rustic and powerful tones to the score but it is the chemistry between the town's women that truly stands out. The owner of the Spitfire Grill, Hannah played by Valerie Eaton, and the town gossip, Effy played by Liz Bishop, bring character and humor to the more serious moments in the show and then a moment later sincere emotion and thought. My favorite moment in the show was the duet between Percy and Shelby played by Sarah Telford called "Colors of Paradise" in which they solidify the strength of their friendship. Telford's character has an amazing journey in the show where she confronts the archaic values of her husband and becomes more confident and comfortable with who she is. It is a beautiful side struggle birthed by her first song, "When Hope Goes."

Musically, emotionally, and visually The Spitfire Grill serves up one good helpin' of theatre for local audiences. The set design by Doug Cooper deserves special mention in my book as the style and execution immediately caught my attention. The rustic, comforting colors of a quilt warm the stage and the abstract boundaries of the walls in the grill give the impression of a jagged, looming forest of trees. The playing spaces are well-defined and the town's slow thaw from the ways of old to the new views of the now read splendidly through the set and lighting by Susan Tucker. Time to beat the cold and thaw out with The Spitfire Grill- go now, order up!

-Ashley Love