Play had the ring of truth

Once again, the Ice House Theater Project had a winner with their production of "Voices in the Woods," a play by Donald C. Fidler, a West Virginia University professor of both psychiatry and theater. Fidler's two disciplines came together in his complex, funny and, yes, sometimes crazy characters.

"Voices in the Woods" is about a West Virginia family that regroups at the old homeplace to wait for Mama to die. Margi Griffiths is outstanding as Precious, who stayed with Mama through the years and struggles with both the voices she hears and the feeling that she has missed out on life.

In one memorable scene, Precious' nephew, played by young Aidan McDaniel, takes her on an exciting flight of sci-fi fantasy that is like a play within a play.

And then there's Abbie Brown as a kleptomaniac aunt. And Natalie Smith as Bertha Sue, the daughter reliving her childhood dream of being a conductor. And Henry Hickerson as Bertha Sue's California Sun boyfriend. Each character is well-sculpted and very human.

More than anything, "Voices in the Woods" is like one of those old 1930s plays such as "You Can't Take It With You." The characters are always in action, and the points are made with humor. Director Gary McDaniel and the entire cast and production crew should be proud.