Matthew Bruffee directs NRP's summer show "The Miss Firecracker Contest." With great vision and intensity, Bruffee directs this eccentric Ósouthern gothic comedy  by Beth Henley. This accomplished director avoids having his actors become caricatures of the south but instead has them portray normal, real people who happen to be missing a few light switches in their brains.

As Carnelle, Rebecca Fish (Acushnet) brings a frenetic energy that works for this girl's short attention span while bringing great joy and passion to her role. As CarnelleÕs newly hired seamstress and immediate best friend, Popeye, Katie St Pierre (Acushnet) easily portrays a sweetheart of a girl who makes costumes for bullfrogs and has an unusual sartorial sense of style.

Although Payton St. James (Raynham) as Tessy, the beauty contest coordinator, doesnÕt show up 'till the second act it will be well worth the wait. St James is all Southern charm, and repressed animosity which comes out in an amazing array of facial expressions and very dishy dialogue! Elliot Levy (Mac Sam) an aging lothario who somehow got stuck in the Ô70Õs, is the local bad boy who charms his way into the ladies' hearts.

"We expect wonderful performances from this talented and joyous company." Artistic Director, Merrie Mizaras promises. Continuing the list of character's is Karen Lehan (Brockton) as Elain Rutledge former beauty queen and cousin to the spunky Carnelle. Lehan is a perfect fit for her character, her singsong voice and wide blue eyes demand that all attention be focused on her while her character's voice just drips with Southern hospitality.

New comer to the area, Casey Preston (Framingham), has the very attractive and complicated role of Delmount, the troubled, passionate younger brother of Elain, recently released by an "institution." From his Southern drawl to his sluggish swagger, he is a southern gentlemen wrestling with his "checkered" past.