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Drama club gets hospitable
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · April 24, 2014


How do you save a dying town? The supermarket and rendering plant both closed and residents are moving away in droves. Yet, the four Futrelle sisters see an opportunity when they learn a salsa company representative will visit Fayro, Texas, in the hunt to find a new factory location.


West Branch High School’s drama club will tackle this farce, where the characters try to make their town appear respectable amid a host of wild plans, ornery people and unexpected pitfalls.

“It keeps you on your toes,” Jill Exline, who plays Gina Jo Dubberly Waverly, said. “There’s a lot happening at every moment.”

The play will perform 7 p.m. April 25, 7 p.m. April 26 and 2 p.m. April 27 in the auditorium.

Jathan Kron, who plays John Curtis Buntner, said the story is “a hilarious take on southern life.”

Director Molly McCarthy-Hill said this play’s cast spreads across the grades, with three seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen in speaking parts.

She said there is no reason to worry about this story being the third play in a trilogy as each story can stand alone. WBHS performed Dearly Beloved, the first story, and Christmas Belles, the second, in years past.

“There are no dull characters,” Tyler Haub, who plays Justin Waverly, said.

The tech crew is building another revolving stage this year, with a living room, church tabernacle and a Dairy Dog take-out restaurant.

There’s Dub Dubberly, who “brings everything together,” Kron said, yet is having a midlife crisis; and the sassy and mean Aunt Iny, “a vicious old woman who doesn’t care who she offends,” McCarthy-Hill said, and “over-the-top emotions” from just about everyone, Kron adds.

“There’s a lot more yelling,” Abby Nopoulos, who plays Honey Raye Futrelle, said, “and some really intense scenes.”