DRIVING MISS DAISY AT THE CARNEGIE

From stage to screen to stage, The Carnegie presents the tale of the legendary Southern belle who wouldn't let age or changing times stand in her way. Driving Miss Daisy begins in 1948 Atlanta, Georgia, with 72-year-old Daisy Werthan returning home after totaling her second car in a matter of weeks. Too old to drive and too big of a risk for the insurance company, her son Boolie takes away Daisy's keys and hires a chauffeur: Hoke, an African American who previously worked as a driver for a judge.

Photo provided by The Carnegie, Mikki Schaffner

If you haven't seen the movie, you can probably tell where the plot is going: The South, Civil Rights era, an affluent white woman's independence now intertwined with a black man's career. Whether it was prejudice or stubbornness on accepting her age, Miss Daisy and Hoke get off to a rough start. Determined and optimistic, Hoke makes the best of the situation no matter how fussy Miss Daisy becomes. From trips to the Piggly Wiggly to longer journeys visiting relatives out-of-state, the pair form an unlikely friendship over the course of the next 25 years.

Photo provided by The Carnegie, Mikki Schaffner

Differing from the silver screen, The Carnegie interprets the most meaningful scenes from the film into a fast-paced 90-minute show. There are some significant plot points left out due to having a working cast of three, but the story comes together just as easily without. One thing I enjoyed was how the actors referred to different neighborhoods and streets in Atlanta, perfect to create a visual for anyone who has traveled there. Little Five Points? That's where you can grab a burger and beer at The Vortex. Forsyth Street? The new Atlanta Streetcar route crosses there. Small details like this gave the play a down-home feel; something that the film version overlooked.

Photo provided by The Carnegie, Mikki Schaffner

A simplistic set and minimal cast, The Carnegie pulls off an entertaining show without all the bells and whistles. Miss Daisy is portrayed by Dale Hodges, Cincinnati's Jessica Tandy. I've seen her in many roles as an older woman and she does a magnificent job whether tugging at the heartstrings or being a feisty curmudgeon. As Miss Daisy, she flawlessly pulls off both. Reggie Willis would make Morgan Freeman proud in his role of Hoke, who openly conveys the difficulties of being a black man in a white man's world. Likeable, honest, and loyal, Willis's character provides a stark contrast to Boolie, played by Randy Lee Bailey. The successful son at his wits end with his aging mother, Bailey delivers a strong supporting role showing that compassion makes a stranger more relatable than kin.

Driving Miss Daisy runs through Nov. 16 at The Carnegie in Covington
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 adults, $18 students.
859-957-1940 and www.thecarnegie.com