"A Tuna Christmas"

DCS's currently upcoming play is ''A Tuna Christmas"

Scheduled performances are: Thursday through Sunday, December 10th to 13th
(Each production begins at 7:30 pm except for Sunday's 2:30 pm matinee)

THE PLOT SUMMARY

--- It is Christmas eve in the Greater Tuna, Texas area, and the infamous Christmas Phantom is on the loose once again. Having plagued the town for years, the Phantom has nonetheless gone uncaught and is wreaking havoc on the citizenry. Didi Snavely, owner and proprietor of Didi's Used Weapons, couldn't be happier, since the Phantom always boosts her business. No so thrilled are the competitors in the town's yearly Christmas display contest, sponsored by radio station OKKK.

--- Vera Carp is the odds-on favorite with her display, titled "The Christmas Hall of Fame", but Didi is a close second with "What a Heavenly Light". Still in the thick of the competition are Inita Goodwin and Helen Bedd with their dark-horse entry, "All I Want for Christmas", which almost got Inita and Helen arrested for its controversial content.

--- Sheriff Buford Givens (as well as most of the town) suspects Stanley Bumiller, the town delinquent. But Stanley has an alibi; he's been at rehearsal for the Tuna Little Theatre production of "Christmas Carol" every night. The Little Theatre itself is in trouble, as well. Dixie Deberry, city secretary, has threatened to cut off the electricity on the production if the theatre's overdue bill isn't paid. Joe Bob Lipsey, director of the theatre, is in a perpetual snit about the whole situation.

--- Petey Fisk, director of the Greater Tuna Humane Society, doesn't really care who the Phantom is; he just wants to take care of the town's unwanted animals, like half-coyote Fresno and Paula the Mexican iguana.

--- Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie, the disc jockeys at OKKK, provide frequent updates on the activities of the Phantom, as well as a forum for the local citizens to express themselves.

--- The play, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, is a sequel to the popular "Greater Tuna", which was performed at DCS in 1994. Both shows feature 20 characters, and both are meant to be performed by a cast of two.

THE CAST AND CREW

--- SAM PEEPLES will appear as half the cast, including Thurston Wheelis, Bertha Bumiller, Sheriff Buford "Rubber Sheets" Givens, Inita Goodwin and Joe Bob Lipsey. Sam has appeared with DCS in "My Fair Lady" and "Oklahoma", which he also directed.

--- Sam was a member of Arizona Rose Theatre Company in Tuscon, Arizona, for three years. He has recently been accepted as a member of the upcoming tour of Up With People, which begins in July 1999.

--- THOM FERGUSON will portray the other half of the characters, including twins Charlene and Stanley Bumiller, their pre-teen brother Jody Bumiller, Petey Fisk, Helen Bedd and Vera Carp. Thom has appeared in several DCS productions, including "To Kill a Mockingbird", "A Christmas Carol", "Guys and Dolls" and "Greater Tuna". Thom reprises many of the roles from "Greater Tuna" in "A Tuna Christmas"
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--- Thom is a graduate of Delta State University, where he obtained a B.A. in Speech. While at DSU, he appeared in numerous productions with Delta Playhouse.

--- Serving as director is SHERRIE RUSSELL, who has appeared onstage with DCS several times and has worked in all backstage capacities many, many times. She also directed "Harvey", "Private Lives", "The Wizard of Oz" and "A Streetcar Named Desire", among others.

--- She holds a degree from Delta State University in Speech and Drama. She currently teaches in the Western Line School District. Thomas Lafoe will serve as the Assistant Director.

--- Katherine Jee will serve as Russell's administrative assistant. She has assisted many productions in the past. Some of the plays that she has worked with are "Man of La Mancha ", "A Shot in the Dark", and "The Little Foxes". She presently owns Reflections and is a licensed massage therapist.

--- Sam is quoted as saying, "This is the hardest show I have ever done. It's no easy job trying to develop 10 different characters with differing mannerisms and voices. The problem is compounded by the fact that the characters are of both sexes. The female behavior and thinking is a new experience." He also says that maintaining a Southern accent through out the show is difficult since a large portion of his life was spent in Arizona.

--- Thom is quoted as saying, "It's been fun to do another Tuna show. Of course, it's hard work and the costume changes get pretty frantic. But at least I had a head start on Sam, since I'd already developed most of my characters four years ago".

---Sherrie says that trying to teach two guys how women think and act is an enlightening experience.She also noted that a two-man show sounds easy but is one of the most challenging directorial jobs she has ever done. The only show that comes close, Russell said, is "The Wizard of Oz", which featured 150 children.

--- "These two guys are really remarkable; all I do is give them an idea and they run with it. I can truthfully say that if these 2 fellows weren't extremely talented and easy to work with, then I don't think I could have done this show".

Other plays for the 1998-99 season are: "Narnia" in early '99 and "The Apple Tree" in the spring. For season tickets and other information call Penny Byler (662) 686-2170 or Charlene Louwerens (662) 335-4375.