Redneck humor comes to life in GHS production of 'Greater Tuna'

Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Bumiller family gathers around the radio, the major source of news and entertainment in the small town of Tuna, in the Greencastle High School production of "Greater Tuna." Portraying the Bumillers are (clockwise from the left) Alex Asbell as Stanley, Reba Chapple as Bertha, Alex Briones as Charlene and Libby Brush as Jody. Not pictured is Mike Waddell as Hank.

What could be more fun than an evening spent with a bevy of eccentric characters with names like Bertha Bumiller, Thurston Wheelis, Vera Carp and Petey Fisk?

These are the inhabitants of Tuna, Texas, in Greencastle High School's production of "Greater Tuna," set to take the stage this weekend (Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Parker Auditorium).

Originally produced in 1981 with playwrights Jaston Williams and Joe Sears playing all 20 roles themselves, "Greater Tuna" has become a cult classic in the theatrical world. It was so popular among theatergoers in Texas that the playwrights went on to create three "sequel" scripts: "A Tuna Christmas" (1989), "Red, White and Tuna" (1997) and "Tuna Does Vegas" (2008).

"Greater Tuna" is a farce using satire and physical humor to criticize negative elements in our society. There's a pair of clueless radio disc jockeys (played by senior Alex Asbell and sophomore Taylor Secrest), a good ol' boy sheriff (played by freshman Ely Bordt), a chain-smoking gun store owner (played by junior Seth Turner), a religious bigot (played by senior Reba Chapple), an animal rights advocate (played by junior Elise Merrell), a cliché-laden preacher (portrayed by senior Jazzmyn Marcum) and many more.

Welcome to Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas!

Other residents of Tuna delighting the audience are being played by Mary Pearl Ivy, Josie Wood, Ethan Gill, Mike Waddell, Abbie Harms, Libby Brush, Alex Briones and George Howard.

The director is GHS theater teacher Beth Bax. Students Carly Rhine and Cecily Girton are assistant directors. Seniors Fred Soster, Janelle Mason, and Josh Mills are technical directors.

All tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door.

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