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Directed by Reginia Garner, ACT’s next production will be the comedy “Birds of a Feather” by Gary Ray Stapp. Performances dates are May 5, 11, 12 & 13 at 7:30 pm in addition to 2:00 pm matinees May 7 & 14 at the Ocotillo Performing Arts Center – 310 W. Main St. All seats are $8 – admission to be paid at the door. With a cast of ACT veterans, audiences are assured of an evening or afternoon filled with laughter! Armed with a sharply judgmental attitude and a pair of binoculars, homeowner Leona Crump (Susan Irby) is consumed with anxiety over her new neighbors. Will they be California beatniks? Or paroled drug pushers? Or more frightening yet, perhaps someone with children?! Her worst fears are realized when an odd-ball "hill-folk" family move in across the street. She quickly realizes that neither God, nor her favorite telephone psychic, has prepared her for the series of showdowns set to take place in her living room. Gafina Hambefferschmidt, an obnoxious, gum-chewing woman, together with her "Maw", an old hillbilly crone; Gafina's simple-minded, love-struck boyfriend, Turner and her "trampy" sister Bambi, turn Leona's neighborhood upside down. Threatened by the over-zealous friendliness of the women and "romanced" by the disgusting Turner, Leona vows to purge them from her cul-de-sac. But she has no support from her husband, the epitome of the couch potato, nor her other neighbor Judy, who is as sweet as pie and about as bright. Adding to Leona's exasperation are her daily dealings with her refrigerator-raiding neighbor Paul, the local real estate saleswoman (Rose Bush), the mailman, an Avon lady and a police officer, all of whom, she is convinced, were only put on this earth to annoy her. Outnumbered, but refusing to be outmatched, Leona suits up in fatigues and resolves to "mop up" the new neighbors all on her own. Ultimately, it's a flock of pink flamingos that drives her over the edge and lands her in the local jail. But in the end, will she be victorious and drive her new neighbors away? Maybe, maybe not, it all depends on her weedeater! Other cast members include Betty Skinner, Dave Boneau, Becky Terpening, Jim Schuetz, Sandy Schuetz, Curtis Shrader, Sylvia Hewitt-Schneider and Eugene Irby. But we won’t spoil the surprise of who is playing which character … or is it characters? You’ll have to come see the show to find out for sure!
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L - Judy (the neighbor) and George (the mailman) during a coffee break R - Judy, Leona & Rose Bush (the realtor) |
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L - Ava
sells Rose a miracle moisturizer R - Paul & Judy join Leona |
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L - Paul,
Rose and Leona discuss the sale of Mrs. McFurdle's home across the
cul-de-sac R - Leona prays the new neighbors will be up to her standards |
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L -
Officer Doonan questions Leona about unsavory characters in the area R - Leona meets Gafina - the new neighbor |
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L - More
new neighbors! Here's Bambi and Maw, too! R - Gafina's boyfriend, Turner, has a heart-to-heart talk with Albert. |
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Leona has stolen Gafina's lawn decorations ... and gets caught! |
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L - There
really is someone on the sofa -- its Albert and his hygiene routine R - Leona declares WAR! |
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L -
Turner comes a-sparkin' ... and ends up with egg (make that pie) on
his face R - Leona checks out Gafina's new hairdo |
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Leona has snapped .. she attacks Gafina's marigolds! |
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The
Smith's celebrate their "victory" over Leona ... however short-lived
it turns out to be!
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The Cast: L - R Dave Boneau Becky Terpening Anne Hollinger Betty Skinner Eugene Irby Susan Irby Jim Schuetz Curtis Schrader Sandy Schuetz Sylvia Schneider |
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About the show: |
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The Playwright
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GARY RAY STAPP is a founding member of The Chamber Players Community Theatre in Garnett, Kansas, and has participated in every production as either an actor, director, or set builder since its beginning in 1991. He added the role of playwright to his resume in 2003 when his show, “Love Thy Neighbor,” was an unexpected hit, breaking the theatre group’s previous production attendance record by fifty percent. Stunned by the play’s success, he recovered and discovered a true passion for playwriting. And he’s a county tax appraiser--who would have guessed he could have a sense of humor?! Gary and his wife Kim have two children, Lacey and Taylor.
Plays by Gary Ray Stapp
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