Story of ‘Runaway Bride’ Jennifer Wilbanks to Be Made Into Rock Opera
The story of Georgia runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks captivated TV viewers when it was in the news almost two years ago. Now it will entertain theater audiences as a musical ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ or, to be exact, a “rock opera,” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. “The Runaway Bride,” an “unauthorized” production, will be staged at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth, Ga. ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ the runaway bride’s town ‚Äö√Ñ√Æ and open in October, according to the newspaper.
It really is true…when the going gets wierd, the wierd turn pro- or in this case they see their life turned into a musical. Former aspiring DUMB@$$ and runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks might have wished that she be allowed to fade back into her well-deserved obscurity, but time is relative, and it would seem that her 15 minutes aren’t up quite yet. Not content to see one of their native daughters become a national laughingstock, Duluth’s Red Clay Theater seems to be looking to rub Jennifer Wilbanks’ nose in the whole sordid mess one more time. Jeebus, people…can’t you just leave the poor woman alone?
And what is it about this silliness that makes anyone think that turning Wilbanks’ flight from her impending marriage into a rock opera would have anything socially redeeming (never mind entertaining) about it? There’s only one thing I can think of that this compares to for sheer dramatic potential. When I was a kid, we’d go down to the corner gas station on Friday nights and watch the owner fill the cigarette machines. It was free, and it was as close to entertainment as you could find in our small northern Minnesota town.
Somehow, I think this whole “rock opera” thing should have been retired with “Tommy”…but my career as a drama critic has been mercifully short. What the Hell do I know??
