If you go
› What: “Greater Tuna.”› When: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays Feb. 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25.› Where: Signal Crest United Methodist Church, 1005 Ridgeway Ave., Signal Mountain.› Admission: $15, which includes coffee, dessert and musical entertainment before curtain.› Phone: 423-886-1959.Preshow entertainment› Feb. 10: Jeff and Marcy Paulson› Feb. 11: Paul Hendricks and Friends› Feb. 17: Spatial Effects with Tom Brown› Feb. 18: Jeff and Marcy Paulson› Feb. 24: Sharon Dunn› Feb. 25: To be announced
Bertha Bumiller (Dennis Parker), left, rules the roost at home. Her son, Stanley (Mark Oglesby), is fresh out of reform school.Take two veteran actors of local community theater, give them each 10 characters to portray, and you've got the set-up for one very funny show.
Mark Oglesby and Dennis Parker are the two actors taking on 20 characters in Signal Mountain Playhouse's production of "Greater Tuna," which opens Friday, Feb. 10, for six performances over three weekends at Signal Crest United Methodist Church.
"Greater Tuna" is the first in a quartet of comedic plays about Tuna, Texas, the "third-smallest town" in the state. All four are affectionate looks at small-town Southern idiosyncrasies but with a satiric edge to the humor.
In Tuna, the Lions Club is considered too liberal, the Smut-Snatchers of the New Order are calling for a ban on library books they believe are questionable, Patsy Cline still lives and a judge has died.
The play depicts a day in the life of Tuna citizens, as described by two radio DJs.
"We keep coming back to their broadcast," says Oglesby. "They chronicle life in Tuna while reporting the news."
The two actors portraying all the town's eclectic cast of characters will astonish the audience with their ability to switch voices and mannerisms as fast as they do costumes. Oglesby says it took two weeks of rehearsals to get their characters down, then it was just a matter of polishing.
"The challenge is you've got to develop each one as an independent unit. Then hold onto them as you do those rapid changes. Adding the costumes helps cement the characters but also complicates things getting in and out of costumes and back onstage so quickly. We can't do it without help; we have dressers backstage," Oglesby says.
His 10 characterizations range from a 9-year-old boy and a set of twins to several adults, including Didi Snavely, owner of a used gun store.
Parker plays dog poisoner Pearl Burras, the poisoned dog, ufologist R.R. Snavely, Bertha Bumiller and her husband, Hank, among his 10 roles.
"Greater Tuna" is directed by Michelle Ford, a newcomer to the Playhouse. A Screen Actors Guild member, she has 20 years' experience in live theater, film, television and radio, according to a news release.
The show will be in the church's Crest Center, which is located in the back of the church complex. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance. The box office will open at 6:45 p.m.
Before each performance, the audience will be entertained by local musicians.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.