Do not consider yourself ready for the holiday season until you have seen “A Tuna Christmas,” the Garland Civic Theatre’s latest production. It’s not only one of the most hilarious plays ever written, but it’s also flawlessly performed by David Tinney and Chris Robinson. There are more than 20 characters in the show and these two actors play all of them. The ability to portray so many characters in the same production and the quick costume changes are impressive, but what stands out is the continuous laughter! All of the characters are unique and quirky. Audience members commented that they laughed so long and so hard that their faces hurt!
The show, first performed in 1989, was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard. Time has not diminished the fun or the constant laughter of the audience.
It’s Christmas time in Tuna, Texas and the show begins with radio station OKKK personalities Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie providing an update on the news in Tuna.
The community theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol” is in jeopardy because there’s no money to pay the electricity bill. The yard decorating contest is heating up with a phantom thief stealing residents’ decorations. Vera Carp and her group, “Smut Snatchers of the New Order,” is hard at work trying to rid the town of all smutty language and win the yard decorating contest for the 14th consecutive year. Didi Snavely, the owner of Didi’s Used Weapons, is busy selling weapons for the Christmas season, along with her husband R.R. who sees UFOs, and Bertha Bumiller is trying to hold her seriously dysfunctional family together.
Bertha’s son, Stanley Bumiller, recently released from reform school, is trying to figure out what to do with his life and Sheriff Givens, the local, inept law enforcement officer, is nicknamed “Rubber Sheets” because as a teen, he wet the bed at camp.
Cheryl Pellet is directing “A Tuna Christmas.” Kerra Simms is the producer.
Remaining performances are Friday, Dec. 13 and 20 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees Dec. 15 and 22 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. Special group prices are available.
Click here for tickets or purchase by phone at 972-205-2790. Tickets are also available in-person at the Granville Arts Center Box Office, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland. The box office is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and two hours prior to performances.
The one and only problem with this show is the fear that you miss things while you’re laughing!