Cast selected for upcoming VWCT farce

VW Civic Theatre information

Van Wert Civic Theatre announces the cast for its next production, Rex’s Exes.

This hilarious farce, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten and directed by Van Wert’s own Steve Lane, is the sequel to VWCT previous production of The Red Velvet Cake Wars, and, yes, it’s set in Texas!

This deliriously funny Southern-fried farce finds the Verdeen cousins of Sweetgum, Texas — Gaynelle, Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette — teetering on the brink of disaster again. Gaynelle, frustrated and frazzled from working too many two-bit jobs, stubbornly refuses to face the fact she’s turning the Big 5-0. In a misguided effort to lift her cousin’s spirits, Peaches, a sassy, mortuarial cosmetologist who’s stuck in a romantic dry gulch, is determined to throw Gaynelle a surprise birthday party she doesn’t even want. Jimmie Wy, riding high on the success of her new wedding gown boutique for big gals — Wide Bride — reluctantly agrees to help Peaches surprise Gaynelle.

But it turns out the surprise is on them when, in a startling twist, the party plans shift to a hastily thrown-together family funeral instead. As the outrageous complications of this ferociously funny Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy explode into chaos, audience members will find themselves hoping their next family celebration — be it birthday, wedding or funeral — is even half this much fun!

Cast members include Jewel Kurtz (Cee Cee/Bitsy), Terry Stevens (Gaynelle), Lisa Eichler (Jimmie Wyette), Monica Campbell (Peaches), Joelle May (LaMerle), Chris Lybold (Aubrey), David Ricker (Rex), Carol Snyder (Gentle Harmony), Mac King (Mama Doll), Mary Yackey (Marlissa), and Burdette Bolenbaugh (Wild Bill).

Performance dates are January 22-25 and 29-30 and February 1, 2015. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. for Sunday matinees.

Don’t know what to give for a Christmas present, call 419.238.9689 and get a gift certificate to one or more VWCT shows, $10 a show or $12 for a musical.