‘Greater Tuna’ to debut March 19

For this year’s spring play, Aragon Performing Arts will put on a production of “Greater Tuna.”

The first in a series of four comedic plays, “Greater Tuna” follows various inhabitants of the fictitious town of Tuna, Texas, the state’s “third smallest town.”

“Greater Tuna,” originally based on a satirical political cartoon from the 1950s, debuted in 1981 with a cast of two men: Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. Director Shane Smuin decided to adapt a version consisting of a bigger cast.

Regarding the choice of “Greater Tuna,” Smuin says, “Funny. In a word, I needed to do something funny. After doing “Laramie Project,” which is one of my all time favorite plays, and after doing Chicago, which was fun but dark, I needed to do something light and fluffy and fun.”

“Greater Tuna” is a satire that pokes fun at Southern life. The script features many instances involving racism, which has lent a controversial element to the play.

Sophomore Regina Lisinker, who plays Bertha Bumiller, says, “There’s a lot of racism in the play and the part that people don’t realize is we’re making fun of how stereotypical and racist people think people in the South are. And even if people are that racist in the South, we are trying to make light of the situation because since we’re making fun of it, people realize how stupid it is to be that racist.”

Bumiller is a stereotypical Southern woman involved in multiple town committees. Lisinker says, “My character is pretty ignorant when it comes to what is considered a social norm for us today. [She has] three children and a husband but no one to keep her company.”

Lisinker is thrilled to be cast as Bertha. “I love it. She’s so hilarious, and she doesn’t realize it because this is just how she thinks … Most of my lines are in monologue form. It’s a challenge,” she says.

Although there is no protagonist per se, radio announcers Arles Struvie and Thurston Wheelis, played by seniors Brendan Stanton and Nathan Berenstein respectively, act as the narrators. The announcers broadcast on Radio OKKK throughout the production. “We’re basically two old, slow hicks just reporting on whatever bizarre news items there are at the time,” Stanton says.

Senior Patrick Lin, who plays Didi Snavely, says, “I really like the opening sequence with the two radio announcers and I think it’s hilarious. A lot of lines they have are really funny and it’s a great introduction to the play. It sets the tone for the rest of the show.”

The costumes follow Southern stereotypes, including overalls and flannels. Furthermore, following the comedic style of the play, a portion of the cast will cross-dress.

Sophomore Cecily Bohanek, who plays Phinas Blye and Sheriff Givens says, “The costumes are funny because we’re using kind of a lot of frumpy Southern clothing—lots of wigs and mustaches.”

Smuin adds, “The costumes are definitely lower-class, small town America Texas. There’s two main characters that are the radio hosts and I think both of them are in overalls, Western button-up shirts, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. That type of thing.”

Costumes are particularly important in this play because a portion of cast members play more than two roles.

“There’s a lot of people, me included, that play more than one part. I think the cast is split into playing one part and playing two parts because some of them are super tiny,” says Bohanek.
Bohanek adds, “They are very small but I think everyone has the same amount of chunk because theres so many characters.”

Cast members look forward to the play’s debut on March 19.

“I hope people come see it because I think it’s really funny. Sometimes I have to stop myself from cracking up backstage because some people are so good and so funny in their parts,” says Bohanek.

Stanton concludes, “I think it’s fun and it’s hilarious and it’s absolutely ridiculous, so I hope it’s entertaining for the rest of the school.”