Mason to Perform “On Caddo Lake”

“On Caddo Lake,” a play loosely depicting the life and times of Wyatt Moore, will be performed on February 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the Q. M. Martin Auditorium as part of Panola College’s Homecoming celebration.    According to the writer-director Ben Z. Grant, the first five performances in Marshall, Jefferson, and Waskom have been sell-outs. “A number of people in Panola County have expressed a desire to see the show, so we are going to perform it in Carthage,” Grant said.

The play stars Freddy Mason as Wyatt Moore. Mr. Mason is a graduate of East Texas Baptist University and now heads the Fine Arts Department at Panola College. He has been pastoring the Cedar Grove Baptist Church in the Snap Community of Panola County for nearly 40 years. “The folks in Panola County call him Brother Freddy,” said Grant, “and they call him that with love and respect.”

Wyatt Moore lived, fished, hunted, worked and made moonshine whiskey and bateaus on Caddo Lake for most of the 20th century. He knew the lake like the back of his hand, and in this play tells of some of the happenings and history of that lake in his own inimitable style.

A computer slide presentation with photographs by John Winn helps establish the Caddo Lake motif. The music by the band consisting of Cliff and Joycie Yount, Gene Aultman and Zane Jackson flavors the show along with songs presented by singers including Richard Fluker, director, Shay Beckham, Patrick Fortune, Lisa Hollon, Jack Cargill and Le Ila Dixon. The play also features soloist Lyn Carmony. There will be no charge for this event. However, donations will be accepted. Funds collected will be added to the Panola College Alumni Scholarship Fund.

“You can almost see the moss growing off the trees, hear the frogs croaking, and watch the big fish jumping as you return to Caddo Lake of the past,” Grant says, describing the play. “I hope the community will take advantage of this unique opportunity to watch Mr. Mason perform. It is a treat and something that they will not soon forget.”