‘Southern Hospitality’ a hit

BY: ANN MIRE, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CROWLEY - The Historic Rice Theatre heard much laughter as the Acadia Players performed “Southern Hospitality” Thursday through Sunday.

Delightfully entertaining, the actors were well cast in their roles. 

Set in the small, economically dying Fayro, Texas, the Futrelle sisters’ lives are intertwined in the hopes of a “big” company coming to town. Each sister has a distinct eccentricity that leads to many humorous situations.

Chamber of Commerce president Honey Rave, played to the hilt by Carolyn Patrick, has decided the town must have a Fayro Day Celebration to convince the representative from the company that this is the place for the business to relocate. Her ideas of a beauty show, petting zoo and Civil War battle reenactment must be planned and put together in a matter of days.

One cannot begin to imagine the issues that arise because of this. Everyone has their own ideas and the clash of personalities lends itself to many hilarious happenings. 

Unwed sister Twink has proposed to deputy John Curtis, who really wants to stay a bachelor. However, Twink is convinced that the wedding must take place as soon as possible; no Fayro Day celebration can interfere with her plans. 

There was an added touch of humor in this relationship since husband and wife Elliot and Sandy Dore portrayed the couple with one anxious for marriage and the other trying to get out of it.

Sister Frankie and her out-of-work husband Dub (excellently played by veteran performers Shawn LaCroix and Jimmy Broussard) are thrown into the mix as their home is set up as a bed-and-breakfast to welcome the business representative at the same time that their rich old relative is visiting. 

A special “shout-out” to Elaine Wright in her role as Geneva, the owner of the local flower shop who is more than willing to do her part for the success of bringing any new industry to town that will help save her own business. With great gusto, Wright throws herself into this role.

Geneva’s assignment for Fayro Day: she is in charge of the Civil War Battle reenactment. Imagine accomplishing this in a town with only a handful of citizens. Needless to say, “General Wright” was her usual professional self. 

Things become delightfully mixed up as an incorrect assumption is made as to who is the representative from the company. But all is cleared up in the end and there is a happy ending.

The same could be said for anyone who attended the performances; all left the theatre with laughing smiles on their faces.