Bosque Arts Center’s Tin Building Theatre brings newest installment of the Jones/Hope/Wooten Doublewide, Texas trilogy "Honky Tonk Hissy Fit" to the stage
CLIFTON – Throughout America’s heartland and specifically in the Heart of Texas, everybody loves their local rednecks. We love their straight-talking and over-the-top colloquialisms, their complete disregard for fashion, their quaint mannerisms originating from a less-than-affluent lifestyle and their eternal quest for independence from any kind of authority.
And let’s face it, their dysfunctional relationships make our own families and friends seem oh-so normal in comparison. Maybe that explains why the Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jaime Wooten “Doublewide, Texas” comedies located at a tiny Texas town slash trailer park with a parade of colorful salt of the earth characters remains so immensely popular.
Therefore, with a huge grin on their faces, the Bosque Arts Center’s Tin Building Theatre announces its fall play “Honky Tonk Hissy Fit,” the newly-released, third installment of the Jones/Hope/Wooten Doublewide, Texas laugh-a-minute comedies. The previous “Doublewide, Texas,” and “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” two-act plays were also presented by TBT in early 2017 and late 2019. But this new one takes the cake.
“A great cast of characters played by veterans and some first time actors brings the hilarity to life in Doublewide,” Director Deborah Phinney said. “This play has been a joy to direct, just the kind I wanted to because it is extremely funny and entertaining.”
Phinney, a regular on stages since her college years, will be assisted by Linda Lowrance, a mainstay at TBT for over three decades both as actor and director.
Spotlight-seeking Caprice Crumpler’s reason for living is being the local celebrity, and just being absolutely fabulous and enjoying her Shiner at the Stagger Inn bar. Caprice – played by Carla Sigler – is determined to aggravate the only real suitor that’s come knocking in ages with lines like “Well, Haywood Sloggett, this is a banner day. I haven’t even had my first drink and I’m already seeing a pterodactyl,” and “Of course I know right from wrong. Wrong is always more fun!”
Since this will be the third time Sigler plays Caprice, she has it down pat. Who knows, Caprice may be Sigler’s alter-ego by now.
Big Ethel Satterwhite – once again played by Debbie Rollins – is the LVN at the local Stairway to Heaven old folks home and is always at odds with Caprice, describing her as “a monkey with a hand grenade.”
After playing Big Ethel in the “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas,” Rollins slips into the role again seamlessly.
Sloggett – played by Bryan Davis – gets grumpier and grumpier as he realizes he’s in love with Caprice, but that his affections fall on deaf ears. With decades of acting in TBT plays and having directed both of the previous installments of the Doublewide, Texas trilogy on the Tin Building Theatre stage, Davis returns to acting already very familiar with the setting and characters of the comedy series.
As mayor of the tiny town, Caprice’s daughter Joveeta Crumpler – played by Belinda Epley Prince – not only carries the future of the trailer park on her back, she also tries to keep her floozy, mouthy mom in check. Luckily, Joveeta stands out as the best BS detector around.
Prince hasn’t been on the TBT stage for a while, but it’s familiar territory as she played Mrs. McCarthy in “The Best (Worst) Christmas Pageant Ever” in 2008.
Caprice’s son “Baby” – played by Michael Richardson – went from hunting raccoons to being the Chief of Police, Fire Marshall and Town Septian. And all this may be a little too much responsibility for him to have. In spite of being run ragged, Baby finds himself suckered into a dance competition at the Kidney Corral Fundraiser. So there’s the competitive element with the neighboring towns of Tinsel and Sweetgum again.
Georgia Dean Rudd – played by Lorana Rush – runs the Bronco Betty’s Buffeteria with Lark Barken, played by sixteen year-old Cranfills Gap junior Halie Patrick. Even though Georgia Dean's long lost love and Lark’s daddy has returned to the trailer park after a 25-year hiatus, Georgia Dean shies away from his endless attempts to propose marriage.
Lorana Rush has been a popular fixture on the TBT stage since her first involvement as a talented Clifton student some 35 years ago.
A professional fishing guide by trade, Nash – played by Brett Voss, a newbie to the Tin Building Theatre stage – is getting pretty discouraged by Georgia Dean’s evasive maneuvers. Voss returns to the theatre after a 20-year absence.
Meanwhile, Lark – the environmentally and health conscious import from California – becomes addicted to demon caffeine, and uncharacteristically jumps around like Tigger on amphetamines.
And all these crazy, over-the-top characters rally together as a big Austin corporation represented by Harper Channing –played by Connie Terry – wants to buy the trailer park and transform it into an “immersive country experience,” think Redneck Rock Bottom Park. Oozing corporate charm and waving high dollar amount checks, Harper misleads the trailer park folk about the process and the final outcome.
Terry returns to the TBT stage after performing in the past two BAC Variety Show Scholarship Fundraisers and the comedy, “Under a Cowboy Moon.”
Each and every one of the play’s hilarious scenes – from Baby’s dance-off preparations, Harper’s hostile take-over antics, the performance as vegetables and fruits at the Tater Tots Daycare, the Doublewide double love interests, and the push and pull of the antagonizing characters – will have the audiences in fits of laughter.
All of this climaxes in a triumphant finale in which Joveeta’s dark side kicks in as she pitches a world-class Honky Tonk Hissy Fit. And who knows, with everyone rallying together, maybe there’ll be a Doublewide double wedding in their slice of trailer park heaven.
The uproarious, rollicking show runs for four performances at the Tin Building Theatre over two weekends beginning Oct. 16. Dinner theatre performance will be held Saturday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m., along with a matinee Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. and an evening performance Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for all shows are now on sale to the public and may be purchased in person at Bosque Arts Center, by calling (254) 675-3724, or online at bosqueartscenter.org.
Introducing The Cast
Bryan Davis got the acting bug as a kid when he played a munchkin in an elementary school production of “The Wizard of Oz.” He’s been an active member at TBT for four decades now. During those years he’s worked on the cast and crew of more than 80 plays and directed more than a dozen shows, most recently two “Doublewide, Texas” comedies. Bryan is a retired postmaster with two grown children who loves cooking, gardening, and writing. Bryan has loved being on stage again and working with such a talented cast of friends.
Carla Sigler made her stage debut in 2016’s “Drinking Habits,” and lights up the stage again in her third hilarious performance as Caprice Crumpler. Carla serves as Bosque County Treasurer and worked 38 years in education as a school superintendent in Texas and Alaska. She is involved in numerous civic organizations, including DAR, Bosque Museum, and First Presbyterian Church. Carla is also a TBT board member.
Belinda Epley Prince is from Cranfills Gap and she made her TBT debut with “The Best (Worst) Christmas Pageant Ever,” playing Mrs. McCarthy in December of 2008. Her second TBT production was in “Dearly Beloved,” playing Miss Geneva Musgrave in May 2009. Belinda preformed in UIL one act plays at Cranfills Gap High School. She has a minor in Theater from Tarleton State University. She loves to read, work outside, being a massage therapist and spending time with her two granddaughters, Scarlett and Violett, in Florida.
Lorana Rush has been a popular fixture on the TBT stage since her first involvement as a talented Clifton student some 35 years ago. Through the years, she has acted in numerous shows, including “Sweeney Todd,” “No Sex Please, We’re British!” “Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got the Will?),” “Steel Magnolias” twice, “Welcome to Mitford,” playing Olive Madison in Neil Simon’s female version of “The Odd Couple,” “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas,” and the spring production of “Dead to the Last Drop.” Most recently, Lorana served as the director for “Bad Medicine.” Lorana also serves on the TBT Board of Directors and has watched her son, Jordan grow up on the local stage just like her.
Debbie Rollins once again brings Big Ethel Satterwhite to life. Debbie has entertained TBT audiences for many years. Her stage credits include “The Hallelujah Girls,” “Welcome to Mitford,” “The Dixie Swim Club,” “Christmas Belles,” “A Texas Romance,” “Till Beth Do Us Part,” “Greater Tuna,” and “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas,” and most recently “Bad Medicine.” Debbie has been married to John Rollins for eight years, is a retired Educational Diagnostician, a mother, grandmother of 11 grand children, and a TBT Board member.
Connie Terry returns to the TBT stage after having performed in the past two BAC Variety Show Scholarship Fundraisers and the comedy “Under a Cowboy Moon.” A native of Lancaster, Connie has worked in the banking industry for 34 years, and currently serves as vice-president/manager of Citizens State Bank in Clifton. She and her husband, Clifton, live at Lake Whitney and are parents to four adult children and four grandchildren. She loves reading and spending time with her family.
Halie Patrick might be new to the TBT stage, she's no stranger at the Bosque Arts Center. Halie is a familiar face when it comes to helping out with BAC and TBT events. Currently a junior at the Cranfills Gap High School, she performed in the high school one act play, “Arsenic and Old Lace” as well as local community plays. With her sights set on law and the political arena, she has competed in Extemporaneous Speaking as well as Editorial Writing, and is currently competing in the Lincoln Douglas Debates. In all of her spare time, Halie is active in the FFA and has been a cheerleader for the past five years.
Brett Voss makes his first appearance on the TBT stage and returns to the theatre after almost 20 years. He first appeared on stage at age 11 when he landed the lead role as Scrooge in the Children’s Theatre one act version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Since then, Brett has directed and acted in numerous theatre productions such as “Antigone,” “Dylan,” “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” and “The Glass Menagerie” as well as several musicals including “Guys & Dolls,” “Camelot” and “The Fantasticks” at the high school, college and community theatre levels. Brett works as the Marketing & Public Relations Director for Goodall-Witcher Healthcare.
Michael Richardson is a native of Dallas and moved to Whitney as a teenager. He is the Market Manager of Brookshires in Hillsboro. His passion for acting was sparked when he was a dancing peppermint stick in kindergarten for The Nutcracker. He went on to perform in numerous plays throughout high school. He is a graduate of TSTC where he studied film and television. You can usually find him working in the garage with various projects, fishing or doodling in a sketch book. Michael lives a laid back, simple life with his girlfriend, Rachel and their kiddos, Braedon and Jacob on Lake Whitney. Michael’s mother, Connie, is also in this play starring as Harper, and they are having a great time sharing this lifelong passion of performing on stage together.
Director Deb Phinney made her stage debut two years ago as Geneva in “Christmas Belles.” Though a native Texan, Deb grew up in Kansas, where in college she appeared on stage in “You Can’t Take It With You,” “HMS Pinafore” and “Bye, Bye, Birdie.” Deb has called Bosque County home for seven years now, and spends most of her time at Bosque Arts Center, where she works as Program Director.
Assistant Director Linda Lowrance has been a mainstay at TBT for over three decades. Her numerous stage credits stretch back to the 1980s and include “Blithe Spirit,” “The Hallelujah Girls,” “The Cemetery Club,” and “God’s Favorite,” as well as playing Florence Unger in our 2018 production of Neil Simon’s female version of “The Odd Couple.” Most recently, Linda tackled her third outing as everybody’s favorite “bad girl” Patsy Price in “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas.” She has also served TBT behind-the-scenes in every capacity, including directing “The Sunshine Boys” and starting her fourth year as TBT board president.
Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
©2021 Southern Cross Creative, LLP. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
