The cast and crew of “Farce of Nature” have been working for the past several weeks in preparation for opening night on Friday, October 14 in a 7:30 p.m. performance in the Brubeck Theatre. This fall’s community theatre production, directed by Lynn Kinkade, will also be presented on Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 and on Sunday, October 16 for a 1:30 p.m. matinee performance.
The non-stop hilarity of this Southern-fried farce highlights one day in the life of the Wilburn family of Mayhew, Arkansas. Meet D. Gene Wilburn, the owner and proprietor of the Reel ‘Em Inn, the finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks. Well, it used to be, but lately business is down, tourists are few, and the lone guest who has just checked in – an extremely jittery Carmine DeLuca from Chicago – is only there due to a location shift in the Witness Protection Program. D. Gene’s frustrated wife, Wanelle, is fed up with their lackluster romantic life. D. Gene’s feisty sister Maxie has her own problems, chief among them battling ageism to resume her career in law enforcement. She’s determined to prove her worth by keeping Carmine DeLuca alive through the weekend. Adding to this, the gangster Carmine has been dodging for the last five years, Sonny Barbosa, is about to walk through the door, in hot pursuit of his sexy wife, Lola. Seems the headstrong Lola has driven hundreds of miles to the lodge to follow D. Gene and Wanelle’s son, Ty. But Lola meets her match in Ty’s seemingly innocent girlfriend, Jenna.
In this deliciously funny romp that ensues, they all hide, lie, disguise themselves, cross-dress and slam doors, chasing one another, while trying to figure out the source of an increasingly awful stench. By then, it’s too late and the lodge is surrounded by vicious varmints that have followed the odor down from the hills. Yet, by the delightfully chaotic climax of this outrageous day, love blossoms, truths are revealed, and the lives of all – family, guests and gangsters alike – change in incredible and surprising ways.
Appearing in the cast of this hilarious production are: Abi Anderson – Jenna Sealy, Janet Anderson – Roxanne Thorne, Patti Hanzel – Wanelle Wilburn, Carolyn Highhouse – Lola Barbosa, Chuck Johnson – Sonny Barbosa, Jim Parker – D. Gene Wilburn, Elizabeth Anne Pearson – Maxie Wilburn Suggs, Tristan Wood – Ty Wilburn, Tyler C. Wood – Carmine DeLuca.
Tickets are $6 and are available at [email protected]. Or 618-263-5124. Patron Passes will be honored.
