River City Follies to showcase local talents

By Sam Blackwell ~ Southeast Missourian

Businessman Steve Gerard is going to recite a love poem of sorts. Electric violinist Ryan Keller is a member of a high school rock band that will play two songs. Darrell Pruett, the bar manager at Port Cape Restaurant, plans to do five minutes of stand-up comedy.

They are among those who volunteered Wednesday at sign-ups for the first-ever River City Players Follies. The show will be presented as a dinner theater Aug. 16-17 at the River City Yacht Club. Those interested can call 334-0954 for reservations.

The community theater group decided to put on a talent revue instead of a play because plays during August usually are poorly attended. "This time of year we have a horrible time getting people in," said Debbie Barnhouse, a member of the group's board. "Everybody's on vacation."

Instead, they want to do something similar to the highly popular Jaycees Follies from the 1960s.

The follies may be more like "Star Search" and "The Ted Mack Amateur Hour" rolled into one. Barnhouse hopes there are enough talented volunteer performers that the theater company members won't have to perform. "If we have an overflow we're going to sit back and have fun," she said.

The theater group's board also hopes to get new people involved in the company through the follies. "We're pretty much sick of ourselves," joked Jeff Statler.

Pruett says his evening of jokes will follow a theme still to be chosen. Divorce is one example. "My ex-wife was a great little housekeeper," he quipped. "When we got divorced, she kept the house."

Keller plays in Falling Field, a band composed primarily of Central High School students. His friend, Bailey Hirschberg, also plans to do a stand-up routine. Central student Carly Pind may do monologue or recite poetry.

Seventeen different acts have signed up so far.

The volunteers will rehearse Aug. 13 through 15. They are required to provide their own costumes and props.

The show will be emceed by Bill Dunn, a former World Wrestling Federation spokesman.

Anyone who still wants to sign up for the show can call 335-8120.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182