River City Players new production, 'Exit Laughing' tries to bring out humor in death

While laughing about death may seem wrong, the topic is approached with such levity in the River City Players' new show, audience members won't be able to resist laughing.

The premiere of its summer comedy, "Exit Laughing," will be Thursday at Port Cape Girardeau in downtown Cape Girardeau. The show runs through July 9.

The play, written by Paul Elliot, is being directed by Chrissie Shay.

"I always describe it as 'Steel Magnolias' meets 'Golden Girls,' but with a lot more high jinks," Shay said.

The play begins with one club member's daughter complaining her boyfriend ditched her for their date that night.

Molly Wilhelm portrays Rachel and Alex Hovan portrays Bobby during the River City Players rehearsal of "Exit Laughing" on Wednesday.Laura Simon

The bridge club has been set on its ear by the recent death of one of its members, Mary, who never appears in the play.

Bereaved by Mary's death, one of the club's members, Millie, played by Angela Feliccia, decides to sneak into the funeral home where Mary's ashes are and bring them with her for one final bridge night.

"Millie's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor," Shay joked. "Everything is fine and good, until a policeman shows up."

At least, the group thinks he's a policeman, but he's really an adult entertainer dressed like an officer who was hired by their deceased friend.

Things really start to get interesting when the entertainer starts his routine, and Millie's daughter, Rachel, played by Molly Wilhelm, comes downstairs and sees the male stripper at work.

Rachel is shocked to discover the dancer is the very date who had thrown her over at the beginning of the play.

Shay warns that the play contains scenes that are not suitable for a younger audience.

"The play is absolutely not appropriate for children," she said. "There is a lot of adult humor."

The other bridge club members are Leona, the boozer in the group, played by Jeannie Hinck, and Connie, the owner of the home in which the play is set, played by Andrea Greer. The lone male cast member is 20-year-old Alexander Shovan.

This is Shay's first time directing an RCP play, though she's been involved in four other productions.

She was assistant director until about a month ago, when then-director Brenda Ferguson had to bow out for personal reasons.

"It's different to see what goes on, on both sides of the script," Shay said.

She said Ferguson's encouragement and mentorship helped her prepare to direct a play, though she never thought her directing debut would occur during the production of "Exit Laughing."

"I thought I would be nervous, but I was strangely comfortable," she said of stepping into the director's role.

While she has played other roles in past productions, directing is a whole new facet.

"When you're acting, you only have to worry about your part," she said, "but when you're directing, you have to worry a lot about everybody's role. You worry about everything."

Being involved in RCP productions is something of a dream come true for Shay.

"I've been attending their plays since I was a little kid with my parents," said Shay, who is 26.

The two-act play revolves around a bridge club whose members are older women and has a cast of five, four women and a man.

Thursday's show is $20, which includes dessert at 7 p.m. before the show begins at 7:30 p.m.

July 8 and 9 are dinner shows, which include a buffet by Port Cape Girardeau chef James Cain. Tickets are $35, and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m.

July 9 is another dessert matinee show. Dessert is served at 1:30 p.m., before the play begins at 2 p.m.

For reservations, call (573) 334-0954.

Pertinent address:

19 N. Water St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.