Center Stage Community Theatre is gearing up to present “An Evening of Culture Faith County II: The Saga Continues” debuting tomorrow, Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a roster of talented actors set to spread laughter throughout the theater.
“An Evening of Culture” by Mark Landon Smith is set to entertain audiences at Center Stage Community Theatre at 604 Powell St. in Lebanon beginning Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. with continuing shows on every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. through May 19.
“An Evening of Culture” transports the audience to Mineola County, where the Community Theatre attempts to showcase the talents of its actors in a rendition of Romeo and Juliet to varying success. With a set that continuously breaks apart built by a local pig farmer to actors forgetting their lines to backstage actors missing cues, “An Evening of Culture” allows for the audience to never truly expect the shenanigans afoot on stage.
“An Evening of Culture” marks the first show that Center Stage Community Theatre President and Director Mary Zurfas directed at the Center Stage Community Theatre during its first rendition, and the upcoming production allows for Zurfas to reintroduce the play to audiences as a seasoned director. Following her time on stage, delving into the zany characters of the production ignited a spark within her to direct the show as a means to ensure that the community surrounding her was able to share in the joy and laughter that she experienced while reading the script.
“These are characters with no redeeming values whatsoever,” Zurfas said. “I think it’s one of the funniest plays I’ve ever read. When I read it the first time, that was the thing that got me into directing. I said somebody’s got to do this play, it’s funny, and it is, all the way through. There’s no downtime. It’s all laughs. We’re very much looking forward to having an audience so we can see where the laughs are at.”
Zurfas expressed that while the play has graced the presence of Center Stage for a previous production, this year’s rendition of the script hosts a variety of new gags and interpretations that will keep the audience guessing throughout the production.
“It’s a totally different show than it was last time because the cast is totally different,” Zurfas said. “They interpret their roles differently, and that’s good.”
Zurfas commented that many cast members are veterans of the Center Stage Community Theatre, but audiences will be surprised by the shift in roles that the actors will play alongside the introduction of numerous side-gags that are intended to heighten the farcical caricatures mastered by the cast.
“I’ve got some very experienced actors in here, and a lot of side gags–I do a lot of side gags when I direct,” Zurfas said. “I like to have people not know where they’re looking. They’re looking at the front, but there’s something going on in the back.”
While audiences may recognize numerous cast members that have flexed their expertise in theatrical performances at Center Stage in past productions, Zurfas highlighted the blossoming talent of Shannon Roberts, who plays Naomi Carson, due to her outstanding performances as a new actor to the theater scene.
“We have one gal in the show who had never acted before, never auditioned, didn’t do theater in high school,” Zurfas said. “The only time she’d been been on stage was in grade school where she read something, but she’s wonderful. She’s a total natural, and we’re so excited about it.”
Zurfas also highlighted the use of the curtain that Center Stage recently had installed as a result of the generosity of a private donor as an aspect of the theater that livens the stage and opens a wealth of possibilities for future productions for the theater.
“We’re able to use the curtain,” Zurfas said. “We have our new curtain. I was so proud of that curtain. This is the second show we’ve done with the curtain, but we utilize the curtain more with them coming out because they’re doing a play. It’s a play within a play.”
Zurfas encouraged community members to attend the production over the three weekends to experience a night of laughter paired with a riveting storyline that aligns perfectly with the ridiculous caricatures of everyday people present within the play.
“I’ve got a wonderful cast, a good crew and I’m happy with it,” Zurfas said. “If people like to laugh, they ought to come see the show.”
The cast includes Kelli Conkin as Violet Farkle, Mary Ferguson as Mildred Carson, Matt Spurlock as Delbert Fink, Meredith Mitchell as Faye McFaye, Valerie Barnett as Ruthann Barns, Shannon Roberts as Naomi Carson, Peter Fowle as Luther Carson and Frankie Gross as Bubba Bedford.
“An Evening of Culture” will debut tomorrow, Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. with shows continuing for three weekends with Fridays and Saturdays beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays kicking off at 2:30 p.m. at Center Stage Community Theatre at 604 Powell St. in Lebanon. Tickets may be purchased online at maingatetickets.com/events/view/1784 or centerstagecommunitytheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 765-894-5587. Seniors and students will receive a $3 discount upon purchase.
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