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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Greater Tuna Also see Gil's reviews of The Three Javelinas, Shrek the Musical, The TomKat Project, and Pump Boys and Dinettes
The show is set around radio station OKKK, with many of the characters either working for the station, calling in to the show, advertising on it, or listening to it. While there isn't much of a plot, there is a continual stream of new and interesting characters, many of whom you end up caring about. The other beauty of the play is that it intertwines the characters with references in the dialogue to other townspeople you've already met or will meet later. Characters come back and go throughout, so it isn't just a string of monologues with characters you never seen again. It also represents a wide range of individuals, from Bertha Bumiller, the housewife who is just trying to find a way to raise her three children while she believes her husband is having an affair, to the caring Petey Fisk, the spokesperson for the Humane Society. But there are also individuals who are more difficult to like, such as Elmer Watkins, who heads up the local chapter of the KKK, and Vera Carp, the vice president of the Smut-Snatchers of the New Order. While many of the characters are bigoted, and hard to like, the dialogue clearly allows us to laugh at them. The result is a sweet homage to life in a small, rural town that at times is also a biting satire. Craig has performed this part before and it clearly shows, with his effective portrayals of each character. He is especially touching as Bertha, giving her many layers, from frustration, concern and fear to joy and love, and she is the best written part in the play. The fact that you end up caring so much for her is due to Craig's excellent portrayal. Yet he is also frighteningly soft-spoken as the bigoted Watkins and feisty and frustrated as Pearl Burras, a woman who has a thing for killing dogs that come on her property. He is also funny, sweet and sincere as Leonard Childers, the station manager at OKKK. While this is Nickel's first time acting in this play, he is just as good, throwing himself into each role with a senseless abandonment. He gives appropriate childlike actions to Bertha's youngest son and provides perfect portrayals of her teenage twins Charlene and Stanley, who are experiencing plenty of tween angst. He is humorous as OKKK's weatherman and also brings a sweet sincerity to Petey. Nickel offers a wide range of performances. While the voices he uses for the women he plays could be a little more feminine, it still works well, especially in his bitchy portrayal of Carp. Director J. R. Stuart allows the satirical elements to be very clear, thereby allowing us to easily laugh at the bigoted characters. He also stages the action at a brisk pace, even when it means numerous split-second costume changes. Costume designer Tia Hawke provides an endless number of southern attire, with a few hilarious wigs for the female roles. While Greater Tuna is more of a "slice of life" play that lacks a more in-depth plot as well as an ending that wraps up the events with a clearer message, it still amounts to a fun-filled parade of crazy small-town characters. The Palms production is full of love and laughs and has two actors who expertly bring the inhabitants of Tuna to vibrant life. The Palms Theatre production of Greater Tuna runs through May 16th, 2015, at 5247 East Brown Road in Mesa. Tickets and information for their series of productions and concerts can be found at https://thepalmstheatre.com or by calling 480 924-6260. Written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard Cast: (in alphabetical order)
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