Humor, dinner are served
The performers of Sing Hosanna! are putting the final touches on their Wild West romp, "Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch" by Shubert Fendrich.
Under the direction of Ralph Christy Jr., the Aug. 23 show is part of the group's popular Dinner Comedy Series, this time featuring a Wild West menu of barbequed pork chops, cole slaw and dumplings, among other treats.
"The format will be our usual one with the play and the meal and a silent auction of art pieces and custom painted furniture," said Christy. "But this will be the first time we've produced a Western. I think it will be great fun for everyone."
The show is a melodrama about twin brothers separated at birth, good versus evil and, of course, who will win the heart of the town's leading lady law enforcer.
Maxine Smathers of Butler Township plays Willie Lovelace, sheriff of Roaring Gulch.
"Willie Lovelace is the lady sheriff who tries to restore law and order to make her father proud," Smathers explained, adding that she appears to be a little ditzy at times in the show, especially in her relationships with brothers Harry and Snipe.
Smathers said she is enjoying the lingo. "I git to talk using a lot of them there double negatives and stuff like that. It is sure fun!" she demonstrated.
Western desperado Snipe Vermin and his twin brother Harry are played by Rodney Gasch of Forward Township.
"I play twin brothers who were separated as babies, and don't know each other," Gasch said.
"Snipe has pursued a life of crime. Harry became a detective and has been tracking down Snipe, who he doesn't realize is his own twin brother."
And the ruthless villain side of acting? "You get to do and say things that would shock your mother ... and there's no guilt," said Gasch, enjoying the part of the bad guy.
"Harry is a bit of a goody two shoes, but he's a flamboyant goody two shoes which makes him fun to portray. Again, I'm not sure my mother would approve" he said.
Sing Hosanna! veteran and Butler resident Dale Riemer is calling on her past experiences to portray Widow Black, an evil proprietress of the Roaring Gulch Hotel. "I'm bringing a little of Miss Hannigan's bad attitude as she was always angry with someone, a little of Sister Berta's flair for fashion and just a little of Mrs. Potts as I'm always spouting off at someone," Riemer said.
She is confident the audience will spend much of its time laughing. "This show will allow you to spend an evening relaxing, doing absolutely nothing but laughing at a group of adults making complete fools of themselves and loving every minute of it," she said.
Tickets are required and must be purchased by Wednesday or reservations made on or before that day by phone at 724-586-0042.
<B>WHO: </B>Sing Hosanna!<B>WHAT: </B>"Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch," a dinner theatre<B>WHEN:</B> 5 p.m. Aug. 23<B>WHERE: </B>South Butler Fire Hall, 98 Old Plank Road<B>TICKETS:</B> $20 for adults, $7 for children 10 and younger. Reservations due by Aug. 20 at May's Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St., or by calling 724-586-0042.
