Who’s ‘Lying’?

Published 11:59 pm Friday, May 1, 2009

Covington County citizens looking for something fun to do on Mother’s Day can take their parents to ACT I’s latest performance, and receive a special gift for their mother.

ACT I (Andalusia Community Theatre) will present Lying in State, a political comedy, during Mother’s Day weekend at the LBWCC-Andalusia Dixon Center. Fri., May 8, and Sat., May 9, the show will be at 7 p.m.; while Sun., May 10, will be a matinee performance at 2 p.m.

Any mothers who attend the matinee performance on Mother’s Day will receive a flower.

“This is great idea for Mother’s Day,” said director Lori Couturié. “You can take her out to lunch, and then follow it up with a great show. This is a show that has a lot of laughter and a lot of comedy.”

Lying in State is a political comedy written by David Hyer, which deals with the unexpected death of a state senator. Hilarity ensues when a variety of characters each vie to fill the seat in the state legislature. Some of those characters include Buttons, the semi-exotic dancer; Harry, the senator’s brother; and Edna, the senator’s ex-wife.

“It’s all about this open seat and the characters who are clamoring for his position,” Couturié said. “We even have one who is trying to buy it. Edna is in charge of the funeral and she is probably the one best suited to fill the seat, but she doesn’t want it.

“We’re getting bodies mixed up, bodies missing, and of course everyone’s doing whatever they can to get that state senate seat.”

The cast features all local talent, including many veterans of previous ACT I productions. Fran Davidson plays Edna, the late senator’s ex-wife; Curtis Simpson is Herb, a chairman in search of a candidate; Dan West plays Wally, the governor’s son and a go-fer; Linda Thompson is Buttons, the late senator’s fiancée, scout den mother and semi-exotic dancer; Eric Lidh plays Fred, the governor; Paula Harr is Margo, the widow of Marty from Parlor C; and Ron Picking plays Harry, the late senator’s brother, a rich man and an author.

“This is a really great cast who has worked hard and has had a lot of fun,” Couturié said. “Linda Thompson, who is also a scholarship drama student at LBWCC, is joining us for her first performance with ACT I. We’re really glad to have her.”

Couturié said the play has some innuendo and adult humor, and would probably be rated about “PG-13.”

ACT I is a division of the Covington Arts Council, which focuses on bringing live stage entertainment to Andalusia throughout the year.

“We hope the community comes out and supports this performance,” Couturié said. “It’s a great privilege for an area of this size to have a community theater. We want to continue to be able to put on great shows like this, but we need the public’s support.”

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. They are available at Ansley Place, Brooks Hardware, Harold’s Furniture and at the door.