Driftwood Players

"Greater Tuna" Nov. - Dec. 2006

By Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, Directed by Margaret Tingwall

Ron Rogers as Arles Sturvie and Keith Krueger as Thurston Wheelis Ron and Keith played all 20 characters in this play

From The Daily World/Preview Friday November 17, 2006

Driftwood's character-driven comedy opens

By Suzanne Deselms

Preview Editor

    This performance of "Greater Tuna" has presented incredible challenges for the actors and the backstage crew, said Nina Morean, president of the driftwood Theater's board of directors.

    The play involves two actors, Driftwood regulars Ron Rogers and Keith Krueger, playing more than 20 characters. They must get into completely new costumes between each character change.

    "They go from a man to a woman in seconds," Morean said. "There's a huge group of people backstage assisting both actors, just in terms of changing their costumes."

    "Greater Tuna," the Driftwood Players' fall production, will open at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Driftwood Theatre in Aberdeen.

    The play, which was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, is a comedy about the third smallest town in Texas, where the Lion's Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies.

    Tuna's residents include a variety of eccentrics, bigots and oddballs; all played by Rogers and Krueger. The show is directed by Margaret Tingwall.

    Rather than one main plot, the play features many small stories, each of which is character-driven, Morean said. Many of the characters are related to each other and their stories are all interconnected.

    Though it may sound complicated, Morean said she thinks everyone will enjoy the show, even young children. "Certainly everybody gets a different message out of every show," she said.

    But watching two actors portray so many characters is entertaining, no matter what, she said. "They literally exit the stage and get completely transformed. That in itself is a sight to behold."

    Both actors are having a blast taking on these very eccentric characters, Morean said. "This show is incredibly challenging, (the director) couldn't have done it without veteran actors," Morean said "They needed to have a tremendous amount of experience."

    Everyone involved with Driftwood Players is a volunteer. All proceeds go toward show royalties and other costs associated with the production.

    Tickets are $10 and are available at City Drug, Top Food & Drug and Captain's Cove in Aberdeen, Harbor Drug in Hoquiam, Valu-Drug in Montesano and Our Place in Ocean Shores.

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