By Kelly Rae Slaughter
If you lived in Warren County in 1998, there are some stories you simply don’t forget. “Potatoes, an original play written by Carson and Holly McNeal, takes one of those unforgettable chapters in local history and puts it on stage.
The hour-long production is based on the events that unfolded in Warren County in 1998, an episode Channel 5 described at the time as “mass hysteria.” But for the people who lived through it, there has always been much more to the story.
That’s what makes “Potatoes” such a must-see.
While the names of the characters were changed, longtime Warren County residents will have plenty of moments when they immediately recognize who, or what, a character is based on. That familiarity makes the show especially entertaining for those who remember the events firsthand.
One of my favorite details was seeing the original school nurse included in the production. Those little connections to the real people and events of 1998 give the play an authenticity that makes it feel like more than just a comedy or a trip down memory lane.
And speaking of a trip back in time, the music is fantastic.
During scene transitions, the production uses songs that feel like the ultimate 1998 mixtape. If you were in high school during that era, you’ll recognize the soundtrack immediately. The music helps transport the audience back to a time of completely different clothes, hairstyles, technology and culture.
The production team also deserves recognition for the sets, costumes and scenery. From the family home and basement to the cave scenes, the attention to detail is impressive. The costumes fit the period, and the different settings help tell the story without losing the fun and quirky atmosphere of the production.
For those of us who remember 1998 in Warren County, the play brings back something else that sounds almost unbelievable today: school was out for two whole weeks.
If you were there, “Potatoes” gives you the opportunity to relive a piece of Warren County history and laugh along with others who remember it too.
If you weren’t there, or weren’t even born yet, go see it anyway. It offers a fun glimpse into what Warren County and high school life were really like in the late 1990s, while telling a local story that has been talked about for nearly three decades.
“Potatoes” is funny, nostalgic, local and wonderfully strange, and that’s exactly what this story needs.
This is Warren County history told by Warren County people, and it is absolutely worth seeing.
“Potatoes” will be presented at the Park Theater in McMinnville on Sept. 25, 26 and 27 with performances Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The play is presented through Warren Arts and was written by Carson and Holly McNeal.