Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful, adapted from his own television play, tells the story of a lonely widow (Carrie “Mother” Watts) who wants to return to her hometown but is consistently thwarted by her overbearing son (Ludie) and bossy daughter-in-law (Jessie Mae). One day, she succeeds in breaking free and embarks on her trip to Bountiful, Texas, in hopes of gaining understanding and peace of mind.

Along the way, she encounters a kind policeman (who has been looking out for her by request of her son) and a young woman (Thelma) traveling alone, who elicits memories of the Mother Watts’ youth. The drama is an understated and elegiac portrayal of the struggle-of-self associated with aging and the bittersweet nostalgia of loss. It is considered Foote’s greatest work, and the film adaptation won Geraldine Page her first Oscar for the role as Mother Watts.

Carrie Watts: Andrea Itkin
Ludie Watts: David Troup
Jessie Mae Watts: Jen Hodgson
Thelma: Abby Norman
Houston Ticket Man 1: Randall Merrifield
Houston Ticket Man 2/Roy: Paul Hodgson
Sheriff: David Greenham

Directed by Laurel Johnson