`GREATER TUNA' DRAWS THRONG FOR TRYOUTS

Since they do everything big in Texas, the audition turnout for the upcoming production of the River City Players should have been no surprise to director Chuck Ross.

About 40 people auditioned Sunday for a part in the play, "Greater Tuna." It is the story of life in Tuna, Texas, a town where people listen to country music on the radio, worry about the "smut" in their school libraries and hope for solutions to the latest crisis at the Humane Society.

"I lived in Austin, Texas, for awhile and heard it was a good show," said Tana Howard, president of the River City Players board of directors. "It's come through the area touring but hasn't played in Cape Girardeau and we needed something with a small set and easy costuming." Howard will be the play's assistant director.

None of the actors auditioning Sunday had actually read the script beforehand, although some had seen parts of it performed.

Several copies of the script were scattered on tables in the meeting room at Port Cape Restaurant, where the auditions were held.

As names were called, actors walked to the front of the small room and waited to read. Each person read at least one part before Ross began making notes on audition forms.

"It was scary," said Carol McLemore. "My hand was shaking so much I couldn't read."

It is harder to audition in front of other people who want the same parts, she said. But the nervousness didn't stop her from coming to her first community theater audition. A friend talked McLemore into attending the open auditions Sunday.

"I thought it would be fun to do and we acted in our junior-senior play together, so I said, `You've got to try with me,'" said Randon Grissom.

Since their high school play performance, McLemore and Grissom both acted in church productions.

Directors Ross and Howard were surprised at the turnout for auditions. "Normally we have about 20 women and two guys," Howard said. "We've gone without a full cast and are still trying to find men three weeks before."

But that won't be the problem this time. There will be eight parts cast in this play, although "Greater Tuna" was originally done as a two-man show. There are 20 different characters.

"This is community theater and we want to give everybody a chance," Ross said. But "it is difficult when you have so many talented people. You have to draw the line."

More auditions and call-back readings will be held tonight at 7 at the restaurant

The dinner theater performance of "Greater Tuna" will be given Feb. 23-24 and March 1-2 at the River City Yacht Club.

The last production of the River City Players was presented last winter at the Cape Central High School auditorium.