Oakton's Shoestring Theatre Company Mystery Explores Medical Care

OAKTON, Va. — An Alfred Hitchcock-style mystery play unfolds at the 2018 Spotlight on the Arts in Fairfax in April. This is the second original production from Shoestring Theatre Company, based in Oakton.

The Best Doctor in Town asks the audience to decide whom to trust. Set in Southwest Virginia and inspired by actual events, the play follows the story of the small town’s most revered doctor, who may just be a serial killer. A local police officer with a tarnished reputation, a reporter who manipulated facts and the doctor’s chief intern, who may be a thief, have pieces of the puzzle. Yet, no one in authority believes the great doctor could be responsible. All the while, patients are dying.

“One of the major challenges for people in Southwest Virginia is access to regular mental, dental and eye care,” said Amelia Townsend, founding director of the theatre company. “My late writing partner, Dink Shackleford, and I wanted to write about Remote Area Medical (RAM) and to explore that issue is an entertaining and engaging story. We were inspired by several actual events.

This cast features veteran community theatre players, including Dell Pendergrast of McLean as Dr. Nicholas Oxenbriggs, Sharon Caraballo of Clifton as Etta West, Elizabeth Keith as reporter Emily Scott, DJ Neace as police officer Eliot West, Geoff Baskir as the Sheriff, Laura Baker of Oakton as reporter Tierney Baynes, Mary Fettes, and Jim Day. In addition, Shoestring welcomes Robert Ford, Frank Gorrell Mickey Butler, and Joe Russell. Eight-year-old Carson Wright of Vienna makes his community theatre debut.

Oakton High School’s Photography Club shot rehearsal and headshot pictures for the production. “We were excited to work with such an exceptional and professional group of photographer-students,” Townsend said.

The original music for the play was written by Southwest Virginians and veteran musicians Dr. Richard Phillips and performed by his band Richard Phillips and Friends, which includes Bill Smith, Tommy Clements and Roger Bullock of Alexandria.

"The sad, opening song came about as I thought about the setting of the play. The history of Southwest Virginia is rooted in hardship. The early settlers found rocky soil and little flat areas to plant. Life was difficult,” Phillips said. “As coal was discovered in the mountains, it continued to be hard. Mining coal, timbering, and farming are not occupations for the weak. They are hard, back-breaking jobs. As I thought about the region and the hardships abounding, phrases began emerging. Hard, Old World, Hard, Old World.”

Founded by Townsend, a Southwest Virginia native, Shoestring is a northern Virginia-based community theatre that shares the culture of Southwest Virginia with the rest of the country through entertaining, original stories. The company is supported by the Fairfax Commission on the Arts, The City of Fairfax, Kimco Realty, The Four Winds at Oakton Condo Association and the Keokee High School Alumni Association.