Farce of Nature
About the Play
Welcome to one outrageous day at the Reel ‘Em Inn, the finest fishing lodge in the Ozarks. D.Gene Wilburn and his wife Wanelle play host to a wacky bunch of guests who slam every door they can find. Gangsters, cops and vicious critters collide in this Southern-fried farce. Set in Mayhew, Arkansas, this farce is sure to be a much needed fun return to the theatre for cast, crew and audience alike. Three-dimensional, but larger than life performances needed to bring this play to life. A great ensemble play, where the characters hide, lie, disguise themselves, cross-dress, and slam doors chasing one another, while trying to evade the critters and hungry varmints outdoors.
Farce of Nature is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
What a wild ride this has been! We have navigated the waves and risen to the occasion to bring you this wild and zany romp through a day in the life of these outrageous characters. We know you will grow as fond of them as we have and hope they bring you much needed laughter in these challenging times. We are so thrilled that you have chosen to take some time for yourself, to set aside the troubles of the world, and to revel in the silliness that is about to abound.
More than ever, I am reminded of how important theatre is, both for the audience, and also for us – the creators. Theatre has the ability to empower, to heal, and to unite us in a suspended reality where we get to experience something special, fluid, and unique all together. Theatre, and especially laughter, can show us that we can overcome anything, as long as we do it together. This, in many ways is what these characters you are about to witness will also learn, though through hilarious circumstances only likely to occur in fiction. I am so “durned” proud of this team and cannot wait to share the fruits of our labour with you. – Mandana Namazi
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
We are so happy to welcome you back to Hendry Hall! Our first production is Farce of Nature by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. What a wonderful way to lighten your spirits in the rainy, dreary days of March and to finally and safely allow you to enjoy theatre again! We hope that you will leave Hendry Hall this evening with a smile on your face and a happy feeling! If you would like to join into the fun on and off stage, please check out our website North Van Community Players under the section Volunteer. We would love to have you aboard! – Fran Heaney
| Character | Played by |
| Wanelle Wilburn | Sharon Slowe |
| D.Gene Wilburn | Trent Glukler |
| Jenna Sealy | Natalie Lichtenwald |
| Maxie Wilburn Suggs | Rhona McCallum Lichtenwald |
| Carmine DeLuca | Mitchell Mackay |
| Ty Wilburn | Ryan Erwin |
| Lola Barbosa | Mersiha Mušović |
| Sonny Barbosa | David Wallace |
| Roxanne Thorne | Kathy Bradley |
| Director | Mandana Namazi |
| Production Manager | Liz Massil |
| Author | Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten |
| Stage Manager | Susan Stanley |
| Set Designer | Clive Sanders |
| Set Construction | Clive Sanders, Andrew Massil, Bob Martin, Marty Smith, Geoff Vickery |
| Set Decorator Designer | Linda Sharp |
| Set Painters and Decorators | Linda Sharp, Elizabeth Cox, Robin Hilliard, Sharon Lisette, Fran Crossley, Glynnis Brassil, Solanges Santerre, Carole Burdett |
| Properties | Carolyn Coles, Solanges Santerre, Susan Stanley, and Andrew Massil |
| Lighting Designer | Simon Drake |
| Sound Designer | Chris Stanley |
| Lighting and Sound Operator | Chris Stanley |
| Costumes | Karin Bews, Sharon Alexander, Mitchell Mackay |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Sandy Branning, Leslie Whittaker |
| Box Office | Fran Heaney |
| Photographer | Paul Tourneur, Andrew Massil |
| Videographer | Paul Paterson |
| Original Performance Dates | March 4 – 19, 2022 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Production Style | Comedy |
| Special Thanks To | Cameron Carvalho, Jennifer Cooper, Urban Repurpose, Bob Nishi, Ron Bews, Scott Nicholson, Keith Burdett, Duncan Sharp, Arnie Ostevik, Bill Howorth |
| Mandana Namazi | Director – Mandana is a performer and director with extensive experience both on and off the boards. Ever since being bitten by the stage bug, she found it difficult to resist the call of the stage, even in the most challenging of times – or perhaps, because of them. Theatre is where Mandana feels most at home and where her true spirit comes alive. This is Mandana’s fourth directing venture, having previously directed: A Murder is Announced (Metro Theatre); Irene (Applause); and Bear Witness (Deep Cove). Some favourite acting credits: Eliza in My Fair Lady; Sister Amnesia in Nunsense; Catherine in These Shining Lives (Theatre BC Award); and Fosca in Passion (Ovation Award). In pandemic times, Mandana cannot stop singing on the karaoke app Smule, as “canadiansongbird”. |
| Sharon Slowe | Wanelle Wilburn– Sharon is proud to be performing in her first role with North Vancouver Community Players at Hendry Hall. She hopes you enjoy Wanelle as much as she has enjoyed bringing her to life. Her credits include commercials and film. She’s excited to embark on her “theatre” journey and is delighted to work with an amazing cast who have inspired her to pursue future shows. Sharon appreciates her husband Dan, for his patience and support while she pursues her passion. |
| Trent Glukler | D.Gene Wilburn– Trent first set foot on a stage at the age of nine as the back end of a hippopotamus. In this production, Trent gets to play D.Gene Wilburn, a man who seems clueless to the world around him and a man who could easily be likened to the rear end of an animal. As D.Gene struggles to keep his little fishing lodge running, he is faced with obstacles well out of his control and beyond his ability to cope. Trent hopes that you enjoy the show and it sends you home with a smile on your face and joy in your heart. |
| Natalie Lichtenwald | Jenna Sealy – Natalie is excited to be performing in front of an audience for the first time in three years. After graduating with a BFA in theatre from UVic, she worked at Carousel Theatre for Young People until March 2020. Since then she’s performed in zoom play readings, trained as a voice-over actor, and made lots of jewelry. |
| Rhona McCallum Lichtenwald | Maxie Wilburn Suggs– Rhona is thrilled to perform with NVCP and with daughter Natalie for the first time! Rhona’s credits include: Silent Sky (United Players), Calendar Girls (Metro Theatre), the About Love Festival (Tomo Suru Players) and The Broadway Chorus. A lawyer/mediator, Rhona has performed in many Lawyer Show fundraisers for Touchstone and Carousel Theatre. Thanks to family and the amazing Farce cast and team. Enjoy the show and get hooverin’ them pretzels like a hog at trough! |
| Mitchell Mackay | Carmine DeLuca – Mitchell is thrilled to welcome y’all back to Hendry Hall and tonight’s southern fried comedy. Mitchell was last seen in NVCP’s Masterzoom Theatre production of Seven Women and will direct our last show of the season Exit Laughing. For fans of our Christmas Panto, Mitchell will appear next season as Nurse Sally Slap ’n’ Tickle in Snow White. |
| Ryan Erwin | Ty Wilburn – This is Ryan’s second time performing at Hendry Hall (last: Three Tall Women) and his third time performing in a farce (Moon Over Buffalo and Lend Me A Tenor). In theatre, he last performed in two Lawyer Shows with director Mandana and fellow actor Rhona (Grease and The Drowsy Chaperone), but more recently in a number of pro wrestling shows, creating characters ranging from a heavy metal-inspired referee to a drag performer. Outside of performing, Ryan teaches people how to ride motorcycles and how to public speak, and has just returned to law. |
| Mersiha Mušović | Lola Barbosa – Mersiha is delighted to be a part of Farce of Nature! You can see Mersiha in numerous commercials on TV and the web. Some of her favourite theatre credits include: Drinking Alone, The Odd Couple (Female Version) and Rabbit Hole, all with NVCP. You can check more of Mersiha’s short films and webseries on her YouTube channel – Mersiha and Michael Productions. |
| David Wallace | Sonny Barbosa – David is delighted to be back to tread the boards with NVCP after a long absence. Former shows here include Death by Chocolate, Light Sensitive, Tribute and Twelfth Night. He has, however, been very busy on other stages in the interim with favourite roles being Man 2 in The 39 Steps (16 different characters), a scheming executioner in The Mikado, a stammering Congregationalist minister in A Prayer for Owen Meany, and the wildly idealistic, if maybe a little crazy, Don Quixote in Man of la Mancha. |
| Kathy Bradley | Roxanne Thorne – Kathy is delighted to be back at Hendry Hall. She enjoys all aspects of community theatre and has tried many different hats. Previous productions include And Every More Shall Be So and Mary Mary at Hendry Hall; Arsenic and Old Lace and Go Back for Murder at Theatre West Van; and Are You Sure at Deep Cove Stage Society. Kathy would like to thank this great cast and crew for making her feel right at home in this production. |