Play Puts “Fun" in Funeral

When director Craig Greusel is asked why Coastal Breeze News readers should come see his play, Southern Fried Funeral, he offers a compelling reason. “Well,” Greusel said, "funerals have the word fun in them. So you have to have fun at a funeral.”

The play runs Thursday, March 5, Friday, March 6, and concludes with a Sunday matinee on March 8 at the Marco Lutheran Church. Fans of community theatre will recognize many of the actors and actresses.

"This is a really fun play,” Greusel said, "with a bunch of our local talent.”

Judy Daye, Jean Rowles, Cindy Sepich, Ryan Sullivan, Glenn Davis, Mike Pigeon, Carolynn Davis, Carmen Brookshaw, Ty Szumigala, and Judy Thompson are cast members. Greusel will lead The Hollar Creek Gospel Band, playing some tasty bluegrass licks on his banjo.

The play is the story of Dewey Frye and his family and how funerals bring out the worst, the best, and the funniest in people.

"It's really the story of the prodigal son coming back and saving the day,” Greusel said. "Let's see what happens down at the Frye house.”

It seems only fitting that a prodigal son story would include a pastor. Sure enough, Marco Lutheran’s pastor, Jim Thelen, will be showing off his acting chops.

“We have all kinds of people that have some experience working here with Island Theater Company and the Arts Center Theatre,” Greusel said. "And we have some new ones, including the pastor."

Greusel, who is the church’s director of music, said the church’s theatre efforts are only occasional.

"We do it every three or four years,” he said. "We call it the community theater project. It's basically through the Lutheran Church. We sponsor it.”