Finally re-opening after the pandemic, the Vienna Historical Society will present their annual humorous plays which vividly portray the foibles and eccentricities of small town life. The performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, July 20 and 21; and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, in Vienna Union Hall.
“A Restful Afternoon,” takes place on a Vienna farm where Jasper wants nothing more than to have a relaxing afternoon, but life explodes around him with neighbors, relatives and rather strange guests converging on his peaceful farmhouse. Confusion abounds as a woman masquerades as a man, and two men masquerade as rather odd ladies — all to ward off the meddling gossiping and matchmaking of two elderly aunts. Add a fender bender outside the door, and a cranky old lady lamenting the demise of her pet rooster under the wheels of a neighbor’s car and hilarity reigns.
The players are Jim Wright, Shelley Duchesne, Pam Bean, Eileen Lord, Sara Jancarik, Bev Smith, Annette Smith, Barbara Gilman, Clyde Dyar, Steve Mallen, John Harker, and Deb Parry.
The second play of the evening, “Perking Up Aunt Prudy,” looks in on crotchety Prudy Primrose, who has had a bad winter with one ailment and accident after another. Helpful friends and neighbors put their heads together to diagnose the problem, cheer her up, and take off some of the burden as she recuperates, They arrange for a fellow down on his luck to move in and take care of chores, and a new doctor is also coming to call. Mistaken names and identities lead to laughs galore and a cure for what really ails Aunt Prudy most.
The players are Ellie Andrews, Steve Mallen, Shelley Duchesne, Karla Arceneaux, Clyde Dyar and Jim Wright.
Both plays are written by Beverly Wight Smith and directed by Ellie Andrews, and are filled with the usual oddball, eccentric and just plain good folk that regularly populate Smith’s plays, along with their assorted escapades, antics, shenanigans and affairs of the heart.
Suggested donation for admission is $12, and refreshments will be provided by the Mill Stream Grange.
For more information, contact Carole O’Connell at caroleo2443@yahoo.com or 207-293-4815.
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