SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017
Class Act Theatre serves up ‘Greater Tuna’ on wry
“Greater Tuna”
Review
B Y B URNEY G ARELICK
Class Act Theatre (CAT)
caught the big one, and when it
comes to outright prolonged
laughter, it doesn’t get bigger
than “Greater Tuna,” a crack-
ling comedy bursting with
belly laughs to tickle your
funny bone from now until
Christmas.
“Greater Tuna” fills the CAT
stage with a cast of thousands
chattering and tweeting almost
simultaneously like social
media run amok, a fishy fancy
feast.
Tuna is the third smallest
town deep in the heart of Texas.
The Lone Star State is known
for its tall tales, and in “Greater
Tuna,” 20 of its residents tell
tales in a hilarious sendup of
small-town life — or life any-
where — including the pitfalls,
perils and proclivities of get-
ting from day to day. It’s a little
like Thornton Wilder's “Our
Town,” but wilder and with a
touch of felony and mayhem.
Pay attention, because what
happens in Tuna stays in Tuna.
Written by Ed Howard, Joe
Sears and Jaston Williams,
“Greater Tuna” opened on
Broadway in 1982 and contin-
ues to tour major theaters
throughout the country and
abroad, becoming one of the
most produced shows in
American theater history.
Even though the show was
first staged in the 1980s, the
jokes are still funny, and it
doesn’t take a rocket scientist
to capture their relevance to
2017.
But CAT is an intimate the-
ater, and even 20 actors on its
stage might cause the boards to
creak. Not to worry. “Greater
Tuna’s” 20 characters are all
performed by only two actors.
It’s an act of prestidigitation
equal
to
the
amazing
Popovich’s feat of animal
magic. “Greater Tuna” contains
no cavorting canines, felicitous
felines or rabbits in or out of
hats or holes, but there’s no
doubt magic is afoot — a fleet
foot to keep up with a myriad
of costume changes on this the-
Watch
“In Search of the Lord’s Way”
Sunday, 7:30 AM
KMTR Channel 12
Then visit the
Florence church of Christ
1833 Tamarack
Florence, Oregon
atrical speedway.
CAT’s two magicians are
Linda Sherwood and David
Lauria. Sherwood is a longtime
local trouper returning to the
stage after a long hiatus, and
Lauria is co-owner of CAT and
no stranger to theater stages as
both actor and director. The
actors affect a Texas twang,
with different inflections for
different characters.
Genders are changed like
trousers
and
frocks.
Sherwood’s mustaches have
lives of their own, as do
Lauria’s wigs, and his ladies
could well be forebearers of
Fanny Rugburn!
As Shakespeare said, a man
(or woman) in his (or her) time
plays many parts. Lauria plays
Thurston Wheelis, Elmer
Watkins, Bertha Bumiller,
Yippy the dog, Leonard
Childers, Pearl Burras, R.R.
Snavely, Reverend Spikes,
Sheriff Givens and Hank
Bumiller.
Sherwood
plays Arles
Struvie, Didi Snavely, Harold
Dean Lattimer, Petey Fisk,
Jody
Bumiller,
Stanley
Bumiller, Charlene Bumiller,
Chad Hartford, Phinas Blye
and Vera Carp.
That’s the scorecard, but
rather than get tangled in the
name tags, sit back and relax,
suspend your disbelief and let
the good times roll like tangy
Bible Study: Sunday, 10:00 am
Worship: Sunday, 11:00 am
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
The dates for Florence Food
Share’s 8th annual Empty
Bowls fundraiser will be
Friday, Dec. 1, from 5 to 7
p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday,
Dec. 3, from noon to 3 p.m.
The event will be held at the
J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP
FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
(3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48.
24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspira-
tional music, health lectures, healthy cooking and more.
You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel
hymns
Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational
Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N.
For more information , please call 541-997-2681
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road
Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday
All are welcome! 541-997-7268
87738 Hwy 101 at Heceta Beach Road
RUAUU? All are welcome to explore the answer.
Sunday Worship Service ~ 10:00 a.m.
www.FlorenceUUF.org - (541) 997.2840
FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Worship Services 10:30 on 1st Sunday of each Month
9:00 and 10:30 each following Sunday
Adult Classes at 9am; Children’s Sunday School at 10:30m
Coff ee Fellowship Following Service
2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025
FOURSQUARE CHURCH
1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337
Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family.
Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m.
Website:fl orence4square.com
COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418
Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45
Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m.
NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC
Senior Center, 1570 Kingwood • 541-991-9398
Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm
Wednesday Bible Study 7:00pm
CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533
Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Family Connections
Adult Bible Class, 9:30am on Sundays.
Sunday Services, 9am and 10:45am.
fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org
NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A.
21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113
Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m.
Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Mon. 5:30 pm
Pastor Lori Blake
www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC
1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen
Series “People of the Bible.” on Wednesdays 6 p.m.
A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome.
Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am.
Florence Events Center.
There will be beautiful
handmade ceramic, wooden
and glass bowls for sale donat-
ed from local artists, as well as
one-of-a-kind wooden artwork
(sushi boards, coasters, trivets
and more) from local artist
Rhonda Butler.
In addition, there will be
silent auction tables full of art
of all kinds.
Anyone who has jewelry
that is no longer worn can
donate it at the fundraiser for a
new Food Share fundraiser
happening in September 2018.
Next year, Food Share will
be selling fine jewelry, cos-
tume jewelry, watches, ethnic
jewelry and all other jewelry
donated throughout the year.
All donations are tax
deductible.
Property tax statements
now available online
Lane County taxpayers will
receive their 2017-18 property
tax statements beginning on
Monday, Oct. 23.
Statements are available
online now, as well as infor-
mation about the county value
trends, levy changes, and indi-
vidual property tax account
information, at www.lane
county.org/AT.
The first payment is due on
Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Lane County Assessment
and Taxation collects property
tax on behalf of 83 separate
taxing districts, including
cities, schools, education serv-
ice districts, water districts,
rural fire districts, urban
renewal districts and other tax-
ing districts, such as park and
recreation, library and ambu-
lance districts.
The total property tax certi-
fied for all tax levies combined
in 2017-18 is $515.8 million.
This is approximately 4.1
percent more than in 2016.
The total amount of taxes
billed changes each year as a
result of the addition of new or
renewed local option and bond
levies, the expiration of local
option and bond levies, the 3
percent statutory increase in
Maximum Assessed Values
(MAV), the addition of new
properties to the tax roll, the
number of exemptions granted
and the number of properties
being taxed on their lower
market values instead of their
Measure 50 MAV.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW
Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood
Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir
All Welcome. Come as you are.
3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136
FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS)
2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational
“War is still not the answer.” FCNL
We worship in homes at 11am Sundays
Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations.
Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am
Middle School and High School youth groups meet on
Wednesday.
RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH,
L.C.M.S.
FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST
Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16)
1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.)
Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m.
www.churchofchristfl orence.org
Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m.
85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038
DVD of Weekly worship service available.
Pastor Randy Benscoter
FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
12th and Nopal –997-9020
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
10 am Wed., Women’s Bible Study
Saturdays, Mens’ Breakfast @ 8 a.m.
Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com
2135 19th St. –- 997-6600
8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer
Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m.
Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth.
FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM
–- Sunday School at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening
activities - 5 PM
Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM
Call for details.
Join Us In Worship
4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week
4 week Minimum
Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays.
4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951
Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M.
Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M.
FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
SINGSPIRATION
and member of Tuna’s commit-
tee to destroy pornographic
books in the high school
library; Petey Fisk of the
Greater Tuna Humane Society;
nefarious Aunt Pearl Burras;
and Rev. Spikes, whose eulogy
is a litany of clichés.
Finally, the sun sets and the
radio team signs off. That’s all
the news from Greater Tuna,
where the women are tough,
the men are marginal, and all
the children are outrageous.
With that, we give a big
Texas toast to the actors, direc-
tor Rosemary Lauria (CAT’s
other half), and the amazing pit
crew, always on point and in
time in the hurly burly hilarity.
R.R. Snavely notwithstand-
ing, Texas is known for its
mighty fine fiddlers who often
compete against one another.
At old-time fiddle contests, a
competitor is asked to play a
hoedown, a waltz and a tune of
his choice.
Let “Greater Tuna” be your
tuna fish choice at Class Act
Theater this weekend and next.
Class Act Theatre is located
at the corner of Kingwood
Street and Rhododendron
Drive.
“Greater Tuna” plays Oct.
20, 21, and 23, and Oct. 27, 28,
29.
For information, call the box
office at 541-991-3773.
Annual Empty Bowls set for Dec. 1-3
and experience the joy and simplicity of
pre-denominational New Testament Worship. (Romans 16:16)
WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING
NETWORK
sauce over Texas’s funniest
barbecue. With all the commo-
tion, props are minimal to set
the scenes — a long table and
chairs on one side with a most-
ly on “On Air” sign above, a
kitchen table and chairs on the
other, an old-fashioned radio in
the center in front of a painted
panel depicting dry brown
Texas hills and a bright blue
sky.
The panel covers the portal
for entrances and exits.
The incidental recorded
music is perfect, including
country classics by the likes of
Patsy Cline, Ernest Tubb and
Hank Williams, with songs
favored by Florence’s Buck &
A Quarter Band.
The sun also rises on Greater
Tuna’s radio station OKKK
and its laid back shock jocks,
Thurston and Arles, who
announce the news of the day.
There’s no peace in the
Middle East, but Judge
Buckner died of a stroke and
was found in a 1951 Dale
Evans one-piece swimsuit. The
Smut Snatchers of the New
World will meet today. The on-
again, off-again auditions for
“My Fair Lady” are on again;
the director finally located
some scenery previously used
for “South Pacific.”
That’s just the beginning.
You’ll soon meet Bertha
Bumiller, beleaguered mother
SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE
DUNES
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m.
1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312
To be included in this directory contact
the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off
information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence.
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