By Jeanni Ritchie
City Park Players brings back their popular Four Old Broads series with a third installment that’s funnier than ever.
In The Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Beauty Pageant, Martha (Debbie Dollar) just knows it’s her year to win Miss Magnolia…but Beatrice (Theresa Louviere), Imogene (Kim Patton), and Eaddy Mae (Ruth Weinzettle) have other ideas. And Maude (Melissa Jenkins) is not looking forward to relinquishing her crown either!
I knew my mom would love it. This is the kind of humor I inherited from my mother and grandmother. I knew I had to bring her with me to opening night. She absolutely loved it.
The entire audience did. It was one of the most lively crowds I’ve ever seen. It was a show where you sit next to strangers and leave as friends. That’s the magic of theatre. And the power of laughter.
And did we laugh! A new resident of Magnolia Place Assisted Living Facility—Clovis—was played to comedic perfection by Bob Savage. The audience howled each time he took the stage with mentor Sam (Michael Dalme).
Rounding out the cast was CPP veteran Johnette McNeal-Coco as the frazzled-yet-always-gorgeous pageant director Lurleen and CPP newcomer Janelle Ranton as the hilarious Hazel.
Year-round Christmas carol–singing, squirrel-loving Hazel—THAT’S the one I picked when I tried to decide which character I would most likely be in a senior living facility. Besides, Ranton made kooky look fun!
The Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Beauty Pageant by Leslie Kimbell is on the Hearn Stage Jan. 29–Feb. 8. This fantastic performance is under the wonderful direction of Dalme and Jim Leggett. Many performances are already sold out, so get your tickets early!
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
