This weekend fans of live theater are in for a treat, Picayune on Stage is putting on a production of Jones Hope Wooten’s comedy, “Mama Won’t Fly.”
Showings of the play began Friday, but two more showings are planned for this weekend. Saturday evening fans of the stage can see the local production at 6 p.m. in the Hide-A-Way Lake Lodge.
A Sunday matinee is also planned for noon at the same venue.
The plot of the play focuses on a dysfunctional family getting ready for the big wedding day of the son, said the play’s director, Gladys Hughes.
To bring the story to life, eight cast members take on a total of 26 roles, some of which have assumed the parts of three or more characters, Hughes said.
During the play, audiences will laugh as they watch the mother, daughter and soon to be daughter-in-law travel the country together utilizing a variety of land based vehicles simply because, Mama won’t fly.
Hughes said the trip starts in the matriarch’s Buick, but a series of unfortunate events lead the family to have to make their way in a Mini Cooper, later determined to be stolen, and then by hitchhiking. They are eventually picked up by a very hyper semi-truck driver, Hughes said.
Their cross-country trip to California makes a detour through Las Vegas. Hughes said the play ends with a twist that plays on the production’s title.
Hughes said the cast and crew have been working on this production for 12 weeks, and only had a week to set up the stage at the lodge in Hide-A-Way.
The cast includes Bonnie Hughes, who plays Samantha Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt; Donna Aguilard as Norleen Sprunt; Sandy Lemoine as Tanya Dudley, Aunt Rema Jean, Edweena and Kiki; Jeremy Hepler as Denton Crocker, Cousin Chicken, Mitch, Officer Dugger, Ronald and Kevin; Trina Schelton as Hayley Quinn; Liz Flynt as Essie, Great Aunt Pawnee, Fanny and Sybil; Jessica Lacour as Aunt Ardale, Juliette and Teeta and last but not least, Chet Wilcox as Uncle Fred, Mickey, Red and Spud.
Dolly Kingsley is this production’s assistant director.
To book a reservation for one of the shows, Hide-A-Way Lake residents can call the office. Everyone else can make a reservation by calling Hughes at 601-799-1714 or by sending an email to picayuneonstage@yahoo.com.
Tickets for the play are $33 per person.