Fl o re n ce Fe s t i va l o f B o o k s i nv i t e s a l l t o ‘m e e t t h e a u t h o r s’
Approximately 70 authors from the
Northwest and beyond will be on hand during
the 5th Annual Florence Festival of Books
sponsored by the Friends of the Florence Events
Center. The festival will take place Sept. 26,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. During the festival,
attendees can chat with authors and publishers,
as well as buy their latest books.
For authors or publishers who would like
to be a part of the festival, registration is now
open. Author tables range in price from $50
to $90, depending on the number of authors at
each table. Applications are available online at
www.fl orencefestivalofbooks.org. Deadline for
registration is Sept. 1.
Space is limited, so reserve your table early.
The book fair will feature at least six
publishers. In addition, writers are invited to
bring their manuscripts for a chance to meet
with publishers which will be representing
many genres: fi ction, non-fi ction, memoir,
children’s literature, fantasy, mystery, young
adult, poetry and more.
On Friday afternoon, Sept. 25, a panel
discussion on the publishing process will be
offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Following the
discussion, best-selling author Jane Kirkpatrick
will be a featured guest speaker at 7 p.m.
There is no admission charge either day for
the general public.
For more information, or to reserve a table
to showcase your book or publishing
company, call the Florence Events
Center at 541-997-1994 or visit
www.eventcenter.org.
‘ Wh o s e Wi ve s Are Th ey Any way ? ’ Fi n d o u t t h i s Au g u s t
Florence theater group It’s About Time
Productions will present the Michael Parker
farce “Whose Wives Are They Anyway?” a
comedy The Conejo Players called “A fl y-
by-the-seat-of-your-pants evening of fun
entertainment.”
Directed by well-known Florence thespian
Judy Adams, by special arrangement with
Samuel French, the play revolves around
cosmetic company executives John and David,
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who send their wives on a shopping weekend
so they can go play golf. While at the club, they
run into the company’s new female CEO, who
informs them no one who goes for a golfi ng
weekend without their wife would ever work for
her. Panicked and unable to reach their wives,
the men have to produce suitable replacements.
John is able to persuade the hotel receptionist,
but there is no one to play David’s wife.
Well, except John!
Written by the same playwright who wrote
“Hotbed Hotel,” Parker’s “Whose Wives Are
They Anyway?” is another comedic farce that
keep you laughing long after the theater lights
have dimmed
Main characters include:
John Baker: a vice president of The
Ashley Maureen Cosmetics Corporation. He is
a successful business executive who, because
of his kind and gentle nature, allows himself to
be manipulated into compromising situations
by the more dominant personality of David.
Alternating between the roles of himself and
David’s ‘wife,’ he is caught up in a whirlwind
of events beyond his control, but nevertheless
manages to show great strength of character and
personality.
David McGachen: A distinguished looking
man, he has risen to become a vice president of
The Ashley Maureen Cosmetics Corporation
more by guile and cunning than ability and hard
work. Relentless in his efforts to impress his
new boss, he attempts to manipulate all those
around him. Even when his plan to create two
alternative wives begins to unravel, he never
gives up scheming and plotting — and always
seems to come up with “one more idea.”
Tina: A young, pretty country club
receptionist. She is good at her job, impressing
the guests with her smile and personality. Once
she has been persuaded to impersonate John’s
wife, she embraces the role wholeheartedly.
After a little to much champagne, she seems to
have diffi culty keeping all her clothes on, and
ends up at the heart of many of the visual comic
sequences.
Mrs. Carlson: The club manager, she is
a straight-laced, severe woman who, in a few
years, will become a typical “old battleaxe.” At
this stage in her life she prefers to take the moral
high ground and does not hesitate to preach the
evils of sex and adultery. She sees herself as a
guardian of morality for the country club, and
makes sure all her guests know it.
Other characters include “Wilson,” the
hypochondriac handyman; “D.L. Hutchison,”
new president of the cosmetic company hell-
bent on creating an atmosphere of gender
equality; “Karly McGachen,” wife of “David”
who is intent on making him jealous; and
“Laura Baker,” a simple and sweet soul
wrapped in beauty but who is easily dominated
by “Karly’s” insecurities.
“Whose Wives Are They Anyway?” will be
presented on the FEC’s main stage Aug. 21, 22,
28 and 29 at 7 p.m., with matinee shows at 2
p.m. Aug. 23 and 30.
Tickets are available by calling the FEC
box offi ce at 541-997-1994 or online.
The Florence Events Center website: www.eventcenter.org