‘Rex’s Exes’: Southern-fried comedy

Civic Theatre show opens next weekend at the John Legend Theater.

Wannabe Southern belles and Southern belly laughs are on their way back to the local stage.

“Rex’s Exes,” the second of a trilogy of Texan comedies that began a year ago with “Red Velvet Cake War,” brings back the Verdeen cousins and all the misadventures they can handle.

The Springfield Civic Theatre will recreate the town of Sweetgum in a new location, the John Legend Theater, next weekend.

Show times are 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, along with a 2 p.m. matinee on May 20.

“It’s a fast-paced, easy evening for the audience of fun, sharp comedy,” said director Kathleen Day.

The cast of “Red Velvet Cake War” is back together and the family spirit of the show has extended to the performers, who joke and socialize just like a family.

With an emphasis on middle-age characters, director Kathleen Day said these performers are a good fit and ones audiences can identify with.

“Last year saw faces we hadn’t seen in a long time in the audience, it generated enthusiasm,” Day said.

Connie Strait, Lonnee Jensen and Annette Black, who portray the Verdeen cousins, have the southern accents down and easily adapt the silly behavior.

And with characters with names like Bitsy, Gentle and Snakeboot, it helps to just go with it. Other cast members include Krystal Phillips, Janice Coffey, Mike Hanlon, Nancy Mahoney, John Weeks, Ann Armstrong-Ingoldsby, Rita Brooks, John Day and Chris Jones.

As Springfield Civic Theatre is a nonprofit, members help wherever they can, like members pitching in to create sets and with costumes and even the guys get to help out with a wedding gown that figures into one of the big comic moments.

Even rehearsal space can be hard to come by as the group doesn’t have a permanent space. Northminster Presbyterian Church offered the Civic Theatre a room for rehearsals.

The group is looking forward to performing for the first time at the John Legend Theater.

“We were lucky to get in. It’s the perfect space for our production and beautifully refurbished,” said Day.

The Civic Theatre is already looking forward to the final part of the Verdeen cousins trilogy, “The Last Round-up of the Guacamole Queens” next year at this time.

The group’s next project is a Springfield Jr. Civic Theatre production of “Beauty and the Beast” around fall, and may bring back the popular Boar’s Head Feaste in early 2018.

Contact this contributing writer at bturner004@woh.rr.com.


How to go

What: “Rex’s Exes”

Where: John Legend Theater at The Dome, 700 S. Limestone St., Springfield

When: 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 20

Admission: $12-15

More info: https://springfieldcivictheatre.org/events/list/

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