For the 20th annual Westlock Rotary Dinner Theatre production, the Honky Tonk Angels trilogy will draw to a close this October with the Halloween-themed show Bubba’s Revenge.
The annual Rotary Dinner Theatre productions began back in 1985, when a group of volunteers staged the musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to raise funds for the proposed Community Hall.
Since then, proceeds from the event have gone towards the Rotary Trail, a CT scanner at the Westlock Healthcare Centre, the Rotary Spirit Centre, a residential school for girls in Ethiopia and many local student projects.
Although different people have signed on as actors and production people every year, each play has been cast and directed by Bunnie Arth and this year is no exception.
“I’m just excited about it, because it’s the third in the trilogy of Honky Tonk Angels,” said Bunnie.
Bunnie’s husband Dick noted they have had people from Barrhead, Perryvale and Edmonton appear in their plays over the years.
“This is going to be a special show, I think. I personally love the music in this one, and there’s some really funny scenes in it,” he said..
There will be nine shows in total as part of this year’s production, including evening shows on Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31, as well as two matinees on Oct. 18 and Oct. 25.
The Honky Tonk Angels storyline is about three women — Angela, Sue Ellen and Darlene — who broke away from their old lives in order to take a shot at show business, hopping a bus bound for Nashville.
The first chapter is a simple music revue, while the second part was a Christmas-themed reunion show. This year is a Halloween-themed show where the oft-referenced-but-never-seen “Bubba” makes an appearance.
The eponymous “Bubba” is the husband of Angela and is a “redneck, beer-drinking rough guy,” said Dick Arth. He has never been seen in the show until now, though he has been mentioned numerous times.
“Everybody kept talking about … this beer-drinking truck driver, but nobody ever saw him. Finally, Bubba comes back to, and he is a beer-drinking truck driver who doesn’t want to be there. He does it for Angela.”
Bunnie said that Bubba ends up being a major part of this Halloween-themed show. How he gets his “revenge” is a mystery the audiences will have to find out, however.
Terry Steiestol, Giselle Hodges and Lesley Foster play the three angels, while Bubba is played by Matt Jemmett Both Foster and Jemmett are in lead roles for the first time, Dick noted.
“We have brand new people in lead roles, which is kind of exciting,” Dick said.
Tickets for the production go on sale at Arth’s Fashion Centre on Sept. 21, though only for tables of eight and matinee performances initially.
They can be purchased by phoning 780-283-0386. Those looking to buy tickets for large groups should call Richard at 780-349-4135. Dinner shows cost $60 or $500, and matinee tickets cost $25.
Bunnie noted they are encouraging people to come to the plays in Halloween costumes, though redneck costumes are also acceptable.
