Tourists, Locals Enjoy ‘Vinny’ Scene

It was as if you had just walked into the movie. The faces and the voices were a little different, but the setting was original, the same as in the movie, and the humor tickled the funny bone just as much as when it was presented on the silver screen.

Last Saturday afternoon the Monticello Better Hometown (MBHT) and Simply Southern Tourism Association (SSTA) presented the first edition of a courtroom skit from the classic movie My Cousin Vinny, which was filmed right here in Monticello and Jasper County.

It was all for the benefit of a bus load of tourists from Indiana and Kentucky who were on a tour entitled “A Tour Of Georgia through Hollywood’s Eyes,” which is a tour of sites where movies have been filmed in Georgia. The group found out about Monticello through Group Tour magazine, which had made a mention that Monticello was doing a mock trial of My Cousin Vinny that could be requested for group tours.

This was after MBHT joined SSTA, which is a tourism effort that promotes “off the beaten path” in 12 counties south of Atlanta.
The group of 50 arrived via bus from Juliette, almost an hour late. But the local crowd of approximately 30 folks in the courtroom didn’t mind as they were entertained during this period by local blues singer Henry Maddox, whose rendition of several classic blues songs left the crowd breathless.

Mr. Maddox later performed an original mournful musical introduction into the skit entitled The Monticello Blues, which was co-written by MBHT director Sage Edwards and Mr. Maddox.

Finally the tourists came pouring into the courtroom, and after being welcomed by Mayor Susan Holmes, began to glance about apprehensively as if they were wondering if this really was the courtroom where Vinny Gambino saved two “youts” from the charge of murder when they had only stolen a can of tuna from the Sac O’ Suds.
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When Judge Haller, aptly played by Rob Andrews, RVI Coordinator at Jasper County High School, began chastising Vinny Gambino, played by Chris Anderson, Director of Jasper County Planning and Zoning, for wearing sunglasses in his courtroom, the visitors were immediately convinced that they were immersed inside the movie.

If there were any doubts, they were erased by the testimony of Lisa Vito, played by Betty Jean Jordan of Jordan Engineering, when she crushed the accusations made by District Attorney Trotter, played by Don Jernigan.

When it was all over, our visitors were excited to have been in our town, which was the last of seven stops on their tour, and according to them, the best. In fact, they enjoyed the experience so well that they booked it again for next year.

Sage Edwards, MBHT Director, who has a theatrical background, came up with the My Cousin Vinny idea tourist attraction because of the movie’s unique relationship with Monticello and Jasper County, and the fact that it was a live attraction rather than just a walking tour.
She even consulted the movie author to decide which scene to reenact and to receive his blessing.

Last Saturday’s performance was the premiere of the event, which will become a major part of the tourism effort for Monticello. No exact date has been determined for the next date, so please watch The News for the announcement.

The cast and crew for Saturday’s performance included Sage Edwards, Don Jernigan, Bob James, Chris Anderson, Betty Jean Jordan, Rob Andrews, Sandra Carter, Craig Barabas, Tyson Harty, and Henry Maddox.