Whenever a production penned by the Jones-Hope-Wooten franchise is on the boards [and it happens often; they're popular and very widely produced], you know what you're in for: lots of laughs from the most improbable of situations and wildly eccentric characters.
So, the current production of Dearly Beloved by the Millbrook Community Players fits the bill as it is performed with gusto by many of this Company's regular veteran actors and lesser-known ones.
We're in Fayro, TX, population 3003 as preparations for an upcoming wedding take place. One of Frankie Dubberly's [B. J. Alringer] twin daughters Tina Jo [Paula Roberts, who also plays the other twin Gina Jo] is about to tie the knot; Frankie's sisters Twink [Vicki Moses] and Honey Ray [Karla McGhee] are there to "help", but leave each other and wedding planner Geneva [Laura Smith] having to improvise when an inevitable disarray happens, and the groom's mother Patsy [Catherine Barlow] tries to throw a monkey-wrench into the proceedings.
The men-folk [Josh Register and Bill Rauch] try to stay out of their way by the barbecue pit; or comment on the action with charming weirdness [Michael Snead]; or remain near comatose by a combination of medicines and booze [Mark McGuire]; or get reluctantly conscripted to be the substitute preacher/minister for the ceremony [Brady Walker].
Director Stephanie McGuire tells its convoluted story in a series of short scenes early on to provide a lot of expository information and establish character quirks and relationships. And the action takes several twists and turns until its resolution. -- No spoilers here; just relax into it and enjoy the ride.
It's all in good fun, after all, and a welcome antidote to our everyday concerns.
