The Freeman Family YMCA is adding a new emphasis on community theatre with a production of “Greater Tuna” tonight.
“We’re just trying to build upon our arts programming here at the Y,” said Justin Stewart, member services director. “This is another avenue people can get involved in.”
Crowder College has community theatre events in summer and the Silver Follies hits the stage each year. Theatre camp at the Y will have a production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” next Friday and Saturday, but Stewart hopes the “Greater Tuna production will interest a wide range of community members in future productions.
The play itself is set in Tuna, Texas and Stewart and fellow Y employee Joe McNary play all the parts.
“There’s 20 characters portrayed by the two of us,” Stewart said. “It’s a farce.”
The comedy pokes fun at the close-mindedness found in society through a series of small stories strung together by location.
“The basic thing that we kept in mind was keeping the fun in it,” Stewart said.
The play is full of surprises and wild lines.
“We just kind of embraced that,” he said.
“Greater Tuna” was written by Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard. Sears and Williams toured for years reprising their roles as the funny folks from Tuna. When they were looking for a play, this one just seemed to fit.
“I’m ‘Joe’ and he’s Justin,” McNary said, referring to the first names of the original players.
“It was meant for us,” Stewart said.
McNary took the roles originally played by Sears: Thurston Wheelis, Bertha Bumiller, Leonard Childers, Elmer Watkins, Aunt Pearl Burras, R.R. Snavely, the Reverend Spikes, Sheriff Givens, Hank Bumiller and Yippy while Steward has roles played by Williams: Arles Struvie, Didi Snavely, Harold Dean Lattimer, Petey Fisk, Little Jody Bumiller, Stanley Bumiller, Charlene Bumiller, Chad Hartford, Phinas Blye and Vera Carp.
McNary’s list of characters have more monologues and Stewart’s have more “craziness” and slapstick-esqe moments.
“It’s a good mix of monologues and quick-change craziness,” Stewart said.
“We like it,” McNary said.
The one performance of “Greater Tuna” will be tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Elsie Plaster Community Center. Tickets are $5 for adults and are available at the door or at the YMCA.
For those interested in more community theatre events contact Stewart at the Y 455-9999.
