*REVIEWED 02-09-10 PERFORMANCE

REVIEWED BY Mandy Rausch
ASSOCIATE THEATER CRITIC for John Garcia's THE COLUMN

Directed by Ed Howard
Scenery by Christopher McCollum
Costumes by Linda Fisher
Lighting by David Nancarrow
Sound by Ken Huncovsky

CAST:
JOE SEARS as Thurston Wheelis, Bertha Bumiller, Aunt Pearl Burras, Leonard
Childers, Inita Goodwin, Joe Bob Lipsey, Shot, Elvis 11

JASTON WILLIAMS as Arles Struvie, Didi Snavely, Petey Fisk, Charlene Bumiller
Pugh, Vera Carp, Helen Bedd, Anna Conda, Maurice, Wo Hu, Elvis 42

_______________________TUNA DOES VEGAS______________________

REVIEWED BY Mandy Rausch
ASSOCIATE THEATER CRITIC for John Garcia's THE COLUMN

There's something comforting and satisfying about being able to laugh at your
own kind, and it's as good an explanation as any as to why the installments of
the Greater Tuna series by Jaston Williams and Joe Sears (who also star in the
touring productions) and Ed Howard (who serves as director) have, at least in
Texas, gained a loyal following.

The series began as a skit based on a political cartoon in the early 1980s, and
the Austin-based trio of creators expanded upon the sketch to create Greater
Tuna, a play about the quirky residents of Tuna, Texas, the third smallest town
in the state, "where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies."

This original production, dripping with satire and peppered with jabs at the
Moral Majority, was a hit and, by 1985, was the most produced play in the United
States (source: GreaterTuna.com). Now, over 20 years later, both regional and
community productions are still being performed to side-splitting laughs and
sold-out audiences across the country.

The next three installments, though still containing the occasional jab at
Southern Baptists and right-wing extremists, are much less politically-driven
and instead continue the stories of the characters introduced in the original.
Being able to identify with and poke fun at a these fun and sometimes
over-the-top characters and yet still make them lovable has helped this talented
trio (Williams, Sears and Howard) to create three distinctly different and
individually successful entities to follow the first: A Tuna Christmas; Red,
White and Tuna; and Tuna Does Vegas, the latter now running through Valentine's
Day at Casa Mañana Theatre in Ft. Worth, Texas.

While it is not necessary to have seen or read the previous three chapters in
the Tuna anthology, it certainly aids in the understanding
and appreciation of the characters.

Fortunately, by the time the denizens of Tuna hit up Sin City in the fourth
play, the authors have weaned out some of the weaker characters
and kept some of the best and funniest to develop and bring back for more. I saw
a community theatre production of A Tuna Christmas this past holiday season and
managed to get my hands on and read the script to Greater Tuna before seeing
this show, so I jumped at the chance to see my old pals again as they returned
to Ft. Worth, and count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity this
go-round see them portrayed by their creators.

There are 18 different characters in Tuna Does Vegas, and all are played by
either Williams or Sears. Some, as I mentioned, are favorites who have returned
from previous installments, and newcomers to the Tuna universe will hear the
laughter and applause before a line is even spoken when characters such as Didi
Snavely, Helen Bedd and Inita Goodwin, and Charlene Bumiller make an entrance.
There are also some delightfully wacky newcomers introduced and, as any play set
in Vegas worth its salt should have, a couple of Elvis impersonators past their
prime.

Costume changes between characters are made offstage, and very quickly, thanks
to what must be a Johnny-on-the-spot wardrobe team (supervised by Karen Jones,
who is also credited for the quick-change design of the costumes), but even with
such necessary quick changes, costume designer Linda Fisher doesn't skimp on
quality or visual comedy. The get-ups that Helen and Inita appear in as they
attempt a job as Vegas showgirls are particularly flashy and hilarious, and the
costume for Charlene Bumiller Pugh in her brief appearance caused almost a full
minute of laughter (I personally laughed to the point of tears; Charlene is one
of my favorites!) before Williams could even say Charlene's first line.

These quick costume changes and shifts in character are handled nearly
flawlessly by Williams and Sears (to be expected after two decades of performing
them). Slight variations in posture and vocal inflection are all they need to
create an entirely different persona. There were a few costume changes that
seemed to take a bit longer than others, and occasionally one accent and voice
blended into another without much variation, but because of the heavy load these
two actors bear in this production, it's easily forgivable.

Each character is equipped with an arsenal of caustic one-liners (one of my
favorites being "You're meaner'n Mary Todd Lincoln," followed by the snappy
retort, "You go so far back – what was she like?"), keeping the audience members
on their toes so as not to miss a joke. Williams and Sears know exactly where
their jackpot lines are and compensate well; their timing with the audience and
with each other is impeccable. They also know their audiences very well and milk
the cheap jokes accordingly – resulting in screams of laughter every time.

Tuna Does Vegas is not my personal favorite of the four; I'm partial to the
yuletide version myself. However, the new characters introduced (Anna Conda
being my favorite of the evening) and the fortune and pleasure of getting quite
possibly one of the few remaining chances to see Williams and Sears in their
respective roles were more than enough to make this a delightful evening at the
theatre and well worth the lofty price tag for this event. My guest and I left
with smiles on our faces and—just maybe—a bit more twang to the Texas accents
we've been so carefully trained to hide onstage.

Treat your Valentine this weekend and take a trip to Tuna, Texas by way of Las
Vegas – and be sure to bring some quarters for the vibrating bed.

REVIEWED by Mandy Rausch
ASSOCIATE THEATRE CRITIC for John Garcia's THE COLUMN

________________________________________________________________

TUNA DOES VEGAS, Through February 14 at Casa Mañana Theatre, 3101 West
Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Ticket prices $63; www.casamanana.org for more information.