Atlanta Seniors Enjoy Play on Aging

Staff Report

The Darnell Players and the Silver Stage Players of Knoxville, Tennessee took a humorous look at the aging process during three performances of their collaborative production “51 Shades of Gray.”

Seniors who attended the performances clapped and laughed as the players presented their versions of what it means to grow older and confront the changes in their “gray matter.” The players even took a tongue in cheek shot at the books and movie 50 Shades of Gray as two players pretended to be confused about the intent of the production and came on stage with handcuffs and a whip while their peers looked on in feigned horror. One “couple” even presented a comically outrageous scene of riding in their car, searching for it and later realizing that they were in the car all the time.

Brenda Porter is director of the Darnell Players and Charlie and Jeanette Stevens are directors of the Silver Stage Company. The play, presented at the Harriett G. Darnell Senior Multipurpose Facility and the Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Complex, represented the second time the senior drama groups have collaborated on a production.