Red, White and Tuna
Encyclopedia : R : RE : RED : Red, White and Tuna
Red, White and Tuna is the third in a trilogy of comedic plays (preceded by Greater Tuna and A Tuna Christmas), each set the ficitonal town of Tuna, Texas, the "third-smallest" town in the state. The trilogy was written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard. The plays are at once an affectionate comment on small-town, Southern life and attitudes but also a withering satire of same. The plays are notable in that two men play the entire cast of over twenty eccentric characters of both genders and various ages. The first play, Greater Tuna, debuted in 1981 in Austin; Red, White and Tuna debuted in 1998.
Williams and Sears regularly tour the country to perform all three plays, with Howard directing. Of the three plays, Red, White and Tuna is notable in that Sears' and Williams' final costume change (normally done off-stage) is done in full view of the audience.
Red, White and Tuna is not currently available on VHS or DVD.
Cast of Characters (Partial)
Performed by Williams:
- Helen Bedd - Tastee Kreme waitress
- Charlene Bumiller - Daughter of Bertha Bumiller and brother to Stanley; now a military bride
- Stanley Bumiller - Taxidermist, now residing in Albuquerque
- Vera Carp - Town snob and leader of the Prayer Posse
- Petey Fisk - Employee of the Greater Tuna Humane Society
- Didi Snavely - Owner of Didi's Used Weapons ("If we can't kill it, it's immortal")
- Arles Struvie - A disc jockey at radio station OKKK, now in a relationship with Bertha Bumiller
- Amber Windchime - Flower child, former Tuna resident
- Star Birdfeather - Flower child, former Tuna resident
- Bertha Bumiller - Housewife and mother to Jody, Stanley, and Charlene, now in a relationship with Arles Struvie
- Pearl Burras - Aunt to Bertha, whose potato-salad recipe is prize-winning
- Leonard Childers - Entrepreneur and radio personality on OKKK
- Sheriff Givens
- Inita Goodwin - Tastee Kreme waitress
- R.R. Snavely - UFOlogist and husband to Didi, now returned to Tuna
- The Reverend Spikes - Now out of prison
- Thurston Wheelis - A disc jockey at radio station OKKK
Plot
The plot of Red, White and Tuna centers on the town's 4th of July Homecoming Reunion and fireworks display, and the accompanying Homecoming Queen Contest. Among the subplots involved are Arles and Bertha's upcoming wedding and honeymoon, the Prayer Posse's drive to censor hymns, and the return of several Tuna residents to town for the Reunion, including Stanley, R.R., Amber, and Star.
Honors for Red, White and Tuna
- Nominee, Outstanding Non-Resident Production, Helen Hayes Awards Non-Resident Production, 2000
- Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Touring Production, Helen Hayes Awards Non-Resident Acting, 2000
- Nominee, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Non-Resident Production, Helen Hayes Awards Non-Resident Acting, 2000
External Links
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.