"Southern Hospitality" comes to the Ritz

The Act 2! community theater group will present the comedy "Southern Hospitality" at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ritz Civic Center. Admission is just $5.

The production is being directed by Tonya and JD Harris and will feature the acting talents of Sarah Jackson as Miss Geneva Musgrave, Jeanette Sells as Honey Rae Futrelle, Candie Groves as Gina Jo Dubberly Waverly, Carol Walls as Rhonda Lynn Lampley, Angie Hatch as Twink Futrelle, Billy Bell as Justin Waverly, Ken Jackson as John Curtis Buntner, Robert Phelps as Dub Dubberly, Tonya Harris as Frankie Futrelle Dubberly, Randy Jefferis as Raynerd Chisum, Madison Groves as Iney Dubberly, Amber Raney as D. Dayva Davidson and Sam Fleming as Buck Strickland

In the play, it has been five years since the Bethlehem-a-Palooza Christmas program, and once again, the Futrelle Sisters -- Frankie, Twink, Honey Raye and Rhonda Lynn -- are in trouble. This time, their beloved hometown, Fayro, Texas, is in danger of disappearing, and it's up to the sisters to save it from extinction. Ever since the Super SmartMart and the Rendering plant closed, folks have been leaving Fayro in droves, but Honey Raye, with a major assist from her former nemesis, Geneva Musgrave, has come up with a possible solution. It seems a salsa manufacturing factory is looking to relocate, and a company representative is headed to Fayro on a scouting mission.

Honey Raye, as the president of the chamber of commerce, makes promises that are not to be believed in order to woo the rep to choose Fayro. In fact, Honey Raye has told the salsa folks that on the very weekend of the scheduled visit, the town just happens to be having their biggest celebration of the year, "Fayro Days," which includes a craft show, a pet costume parade, a beauty pageant and a huge Civil War battle re-enactment. So once again, it's up to the citizens of Fayro to quickly make her promises a reality.

Adding to this is the dilemma of Twink being so desperate to get married that she's practically dragging the groom, Dep. John Curtis Buntner, to the altar. Then there are the financial problems the preacher and his wife have got themselves into. Frankie, however, seems to have it worst of all, what with her husband, Dub, going through a major midlife crisis at the same time her 5-year-old twins are literally tearing up the town. Unfortunately for all of them, the "meanest woman in 12 counties," Dub's wicked, old Aunt Iney, is on her way for a visit. How the Futrelle sisters and the other citizens of Fayro, including sweet, simple Raynerd Chisum, pull together and save their town is a testament to Southern strength and ingenuity--and a recipe for total hilarity.

"Southern Hospitality" was written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. It is being produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.

For more, call the Ritz Theatre at 870-762-1744.