‘Life Goes On’at Gaffney Little Theatre

Herb, the gynecologist, (Roy Price) tries to comfort Harriet, Robin Price) after the death of her husband the judge in a scene from the hilarious comedy, Life Goes On, playing July 28-31 at the Gaffney Little Theatre. I

embalming and burying or cremating it is

preposterous and absurd, then you haven't seen Life Goes On, a hilarious new play written by North Carolina judge James E. Ragan III. The play opens at Gaffney Little Theatre on Thursday, July 28, and continues through Sunday afternoon.

Directed by Sarah Hawkins and Tedi Gibbons, the show features 20 actors from the area, many of whom are newcomers to the GLT stage. Bill Crotzer plays the role of George Smith, who dies after the first scene. The role is extremely difficult, given the fact that the actor is in front of the audience most of the time, but he must be convincingly dead. While the audience howls at the antics on stage and while his body is wheeled about and put into all kinds of configurations by the other characters, he must be chiseled in stone throughout the performance.

Robin Price is George's wife, Harriet. Becoming increasingly forgetful, she even forgets that George is dead and insists on keeping his body at home at night, even though he is carried through normal routine at the office and at the courthouse.

The whole scheme evolves from a discovery that George's friend Roger Norris, a local undertaker, makes which he calls a "Preservation System." Norris (Ernest Lavender) and his friend Herb Witherspoon, a gynecologist, (played by Roy Price) convince Judge Smith to join them in a "get-rich-scheme" by investing in the "Preservation System." The judge is not a wealthy man, and when he dies suddenly just 30 days before his wife's insurance is fully vested, Norris and Witherspoon decide to use the secret formula on the judge. They pretend that he has suffered a debilitating stroke that renders him incapable of speaking but perfectly capable of riding around in a wheelchair.

Norris' wife Nellie is played by GLT veteran Mary Carpenter, while Ginger Harmon is seen as Roger's wife Ann.

Much of the fun in the play is created by Judge Smith's office staff. The judge's secretary Tillie, his court reporter Bee, and his bailiff Melvin are expertly played by Lori Lee, Mary Turner and Matthew Giles. Reluctant to go along with the deception of pretending that Judge Smith is still alive, but concerned with the status of their own jobs, they agree to keep up the farce and find ways of keeping the office running smoothly. The "fly in the ointment" is created by Phil Gibbons, seen in the role of Judge Hacker, a man who desperately wants Judge Smith's job and would do anything to get it. Warren Turner skillfully performs the duties of the mayor of the city.

Justin Addington, another GLT newcomer, and Kim Carroll appear as competitive lawyers, Ward and Stallings. News reporters include Patrick Cox, Kyra Carroll, Stephanie Turner, Kristen Estes, Amanda Knowles and Fred Knowles.

Judy Rozsa plays a cameo role as Alfreda Pickles, Director of Benefits at the Office of the Courts in Raleigh.

Reservations for the show may be made by calling the theatre office at 489-4589. Strong language may make the play unsuitable for younger children.

With a set designed and constructed by Bill Gibbons, the technical staff includes Matt Smith, stage manager, Will Gibbons, lighting, and Jamie Grindstaff, lighting designer.

To add to the fun, $1 tickets will allow theatre goers to register to win Being Dead Is No Excuse, a cookbook that includes a humorous look at funerals in the Deep South. A drawing for the book will be held following the Sunday matinee. A number of free prizes will also be offered.

Life Goes On plays Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and closes with a Sunday matinee at 3.