Recommended The Towle Theater’s production of Double-wide, Texas is funny, farcical comedy about the inmates – oops inhabitants – of a tiny trailer park just outside Tugaloo, Texas. It has the pratfalls and physical comedy of a typical farce, but not the machine-gun fast delivery – this is Texas, after all! You’ll be laughing at this must-see. 4 Spotlights
Haywood Sloggett (Gary Murphy) is your typical curmudgeon, a gruff old man who resists change and complains about everything, but he really, really hates the trailer park across the way. The tanning bed on the roof of one double-wide is his particular pet peeve.
Joveeta Crumpler (Michelle Perry) lives in that very double-wide with her mother, Caprice Crumpler (Donna Schulte) and her brother, Baby Crumpler (Dion Stover) who both take naked advantage of that tanning bed.
(l. to r. standing) Donna Schulte, Dion Stover, Nicole Minardi: (seated) Karen Louise Doerfler. Photo provided.
Joveeta is furious enough to get a new job because she was passed over for promotion to City Manager. Instead, they brought in smarmy Lomax Tanner (Dean Papadopoulos) who is positive he’s God’s gift to women.
Her best friend, Georgia Dean (Karyn Louise Doerfler), is trying to keep her diner afloat, but she can’t resist a stray. When a very pregnant Starla Pudney (Reagan Kay James) shows up at the diner, she doesn’t just give her a meal, she takes her home.
(l. to r.) Dean Papadopoulos as Lomax Tanner, Donna Schulte as Caprice, Michelle Perry as Joveeta, Karyn Louis Doerfler as Georgia Dean. Photo provided.
Big Ethel (Nicole Minardi), whose husband loves his Barcalounger more than he loves her, is always coming up with crazy schemes to help her clients at the nursing home. When she hears about a beauty contest, she’s positive that Baby Crumpler would win. Watching him learn to walk in high heels – with frequent pratfalls – is an experience.
Meanwhile Caprice is going to do commercials for the local mattress store if she can figure out the best costume and jingle. Her first entry is Dorothy, complete with red shoes, blue gingham dress and basket. When that idea is rejected, she comes up with two even more outrageous ideas.
Donna Schulte as Caprice Crumpler, Michelle Perry as Joveeta Crumpler. Photo provided.
When they find out that Lomax and the mayor have convinced the town council to annex their trailer park they panic. When they find out that Sloggett is working with Lomax, war is on the horizon – until Sloggett’s house is condemned too.
Is secession the answer - or seduction? Will Lomax ever take off his Stetson? Who is Lark (Jenna Smith)? Does Starla have her baby? Do they save their double-wides? All of these questions and more will be answered.
Jenna Smith as Lark & Dean Papadopoulos as Lomax Tanner. Photo provided.
Double-wide, Texas was written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. It had its world premiere in Harrison, Arkansas in 2015.
Double-wide, Texas runs through May 17th at the Towle Theater, 5205 Hohman Avenue, Hammond. Parking is free.
Running time is 2 hours with an intermission. Performances: Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays & Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets at $30 in advance, $35 at the door. FYI (219) 937-8780 or www.towletheater.org.