Southern farce takes stage at WiLLow LeaVes of Hope

A “Southern-fried farce” of epic proportions will premiere this weekend at Willow LeaVes of Hope.

“Farce of Nature,” presented by the Actors’ Studio of Hope and WILLow LeaVes of Hope, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, kicks off its two weekend run at 7 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 6 p.m. with a 7 p.m. curtain time.

Area residents have several opportunities to check out the show as there will be 7 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday both this weekend and next.

The nearly two-hour long play is set at the Reel ‘Em Inn, a fishing lodge located in Mayhew, Arkansas, that is known as “the finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks.” However, things aren’t as hunky dory as they might sound.

Business isn’t what it used to be and the inn’s sole occupant, Carmine DeLuca, a Chicagoan who has been placed in the Witness Relocation Program, brings with her more baggage than the typical occupant, namely a gangster named Sonny Barbosa, who unsuspectingly shows up at the inn. But making sure a government witness stays safe during her weekend stay is the least of owner D. Gene’s concerns as his wife, Wanelle, his son, Ty, and sister Maxie have their own problems they bring to the inn while D. Gene is tries to keep his business above water.

Directed and produced by Naomi Fleetwood-Pyle, the play takes the audience on a hilarious journey of twists in turns filled with deceit and mistaken identity.

Pyle says this play differs from other comedies she’s produced in the past for the simple fact of the number of characters involved.

“It starts out with a lot of discrepancies,” Pyle says. “It has a lot more twists and turns than other plays I’ve done. The play ends up with things getting settled on a happy note.”

Hope resident Pete Law portrays Ty Wilburn, a man who finds there really is no place like home. Wilburn leaves his parents, girlfriend and friends behind to travel from his home in the Ozarks to Chicago to pursue a career in acting. It isn’t too long before Wilburn realizes that what is truly important can’t be found on a stage.

“I will say this is a role that hits close to home,” Law says. “It isn’t a far stretch for me in that my character leaves his hometown to become an actor.”

Portraying Ty presents some challenges, Law says, chief among them playing an over-the-top actor who believes he is an actor and will play the part despite his lack of acting ability.

“The biggest challenge is probably balancing and making sure the audience understands me as a good actor trying to portray a bad actor,” Law says.

As the twists and turns come together, it is clear Ty made the right decision to come home.

“He realized his parents come very close to losing their lodge and he nearly loses his girlfriend, Jenna,” Law says. “He realizes it is home that matters more than being away from it trying to better somewhere else.”