By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Comedy is on the marquee this weekend at the Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The Upstagers will bring the Ray Cooney play, “Caught In the Net,” beginning Friday at 8 p.m. at the historic playhouse located at 746 S. Main St. The play runs Friday and Saturday, and then Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13.
Saturday’s performance will be a little more emotional as the Upstagers plan a short celebration in memory of Kenneth Sievers and Kellie Jackson prior to the performance. Sievers and Jackson, who were married, were longtime members of the Upstagers – Jackson directed “First Night” in June and Sievers was an Upstagers board members – but both passed away within hours of each other on Sept. 17.
The play is actually a sequel to the play “Run for Your Wife.” The synopsis of “Caught in the Net” is as follows: “Gavin Smith, son of John and Barbara Smith, ends up meeting Vicki Smith, daughter of John and Mary Smith, online. They fall in love, and they discover that their fathers have the same name. They decide that they have to meet, and their dad, John finds out. He enlists the aid of his pal, the not-so-bright Stanley Gardner, who brings along his father. The result is confusion, lying, and all sorts of craziness.” The play is set in England, so yes, that is an English accent you’re hearing from the performers.
“Craziness” isn’t the best way to describe what happens during the play. The energy brought by the cast and the scenarios they are caught up in is worth seeing. Director Gloria Culpepper has assembled a strong cast that is up to the task of delivering on the wackiness and chaos promised by the synopsis.
Upstagers veteran Scott Fooshee plays John and brings his own style of acting to the role. Fooshee’s passion becomes evident when you see everything John is put through. It’s not just the words but the actual physical comedy that allows Fooshee to shine.
Scott is not the only Fooshee on the cast list. His children, Kate and Will, will play the roles of Vicki and Gavin, respectively. Scott’s appearance in the play is only due to Kate’s wanting to audition, but both young actors hold their own around the experienced cast.
Will already has plenty on his plate. He’s set to travel to Round Rock to compete at the State cross country meet Friday morning alongside his Comstock teammates before returning home to debut in the play. So he’ll run, rest, return and act all in the same day.
Fellow stage veterans Silvia Wille and Christopher Wofford play Mary and Stanley. Both are experienced with smaller casts and plays like this one (it runs only two acts), and both bring more of that energy and comedic timing that makes the play one to enjoy.
Wofford appeared in the first Upstagers show this season, “First Night,” which played in June. He was initially cast as the Stanley understudy, with city of Del Rio Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano set to play the role, but work demands took Lozano out of the play and Wofford stepped right into Stanley’s shoes.
Wille appeared in 2019’s “Things My Mother Taught Me,” as did Wofford, but she has been active at auditions and behind the scenes. She has the ability to steal the show at times, but is a terrific complement to the cast.
Rounding out the cast are Christina Yawn as Barbara and Rachel Hinman as Stanley’s Dad. Keep an eye on Hinman. Her performance as Dad is a sort of callback to classic sitcom supporting characters whose timing is key to making the joke land with a boom rather than a thud.
Tickets are available now. They can be purchased at Paulino’s Service Center, 4220 US Highway 90 West; Diamond’s Salon, 709 E. Gibbs St.; Del Rio Feed & Supply, 111 E. Gibbs St.; Mesquite Creek Outfitters, 800 S. Main St.; and Crossfit Del Rio, 601 S. Main St. Tickets will also be available at the door. Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for students 18 and under.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
