By Dan Bechtold, Editor
Need some time to laugh, just sit back and relax. Well, you have to see the Winner Community Playhouse production of “Rex’s Exes.”
The opening weekend was this past Friday and Saturday with the cast getting a standing ovation on Friday night.
It is a funny Southern fried farce that will have you rolling in the aisle.
Whether you have had a bad day at work or a challenging week, there is no way to be sad while watching this show.
This play finds the Verdeen cousins of Sweetgum, Texas, on the brink of disaster again. Gaynelle, Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette are the hilarious cousins. Gaynelle, frustrated and frazzled from working too many two-bit jobs, stubbornly refuses to face the fact she turning the big 50. In a misguided effort to lift her cousin’s spirits Peaches, a sassy, mortuarial cosmetologist, is determined to throw Gaynelle a surprise birthday party.
Jimmie Wyvette, riding high on the success of her new wedding gown boutique for big gals—Wide Bride, reluctantly agrees to help Peaches surprise Gaynelle. There are a lot of twists and turns in this play.
Tami Comp as Gaynelle, Sarah Gustafson as Jimmie Wyvette and Barb DeSersa as Peaches are all excellent.
Michele Hagenlock does a good job as LaMerle Verdeen, the matriarch of the Verdeen clan. She is determined to have her good name restored.
There were fine performances by Donna Howland as Bitsy Hargis, a neighbor; Dan Patmore as the thought to be dead husband who has a dark secret; Doug Nelson, as a bounty hunter chasing Rex.
The play features three Winner High School students, Kenzie Irick, Meredith Calhoon and Kallie Foudray. Kenzie plays Cee Cee Windham, a TV show hosts and Kallie plays Marlissa Cruthfield, the third lady of Texas who comes to visit the Verdeen cousins.
Calhoon plays Gentle Harmony, a psychic who is called in to help Peaches.
But the real show stoppers are Linda Watson and Maurice Gustafson as Mamma Doll Hargis and Aubrey Verdeen. The two of them appeared as the same characters in the play “The Red Velvet Cake Wars” which was presented by the playhouse a couple of years ago.
A wonderful job of directing by Sandra York. Dan Patmore did not forego his technical director job to be in this play. He has created a wonderful set in this comedy.
The play will again be presented this weekend March 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the playhouse. For reservations call the playhouse at 842-1958.
I assure you, you will not be disappointed.