SCT to wrap up trilogy with ‘Bubba’s Revenge’

Staff report

SALEM

Salem Community Theatre will complete the “Honkytonk Angels” trilogy when it presents “Bubba’s Revenge: The Honkytonk Angels Final Chapter.” The musical comedy opens Friday and runs for six performances over two-consecutive weekends.

The theater has produced the first two works in the series by playwright Ted Swindley over the past few seasons. Once again, the same three actors who play the Honkytonk Angels will return for “Bubba’s Revenge”: Julie Benner, Amanda Frost and Niki Slaven.

The Angels’ backup band, the Bodacious Bobcats, also will return for “Bubba’s Revenge,” which will close Salem’s 2015-16 season.

“Bubba’s Revenge” is being directed by Cheryl and Gary Kekel, who also is serving as music director, and Mark Frost. Choreographer is Joanna Andrei.

New to the cast are Donny Wolford, Tim Carr and Mark Frost in the title role of the opinionated Bubba Bodine.

Songs performed by the Angels in the musical include “Islands in the Stream,” “On the Road Again,” “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,” “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Achy Breaky Heart,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man,” “Everything is Beautiful” and a medley of gospel songs.

Although many local theatergoers have seen the previous two installments of The “Honkytonk Angels,” the directors say that those who haven’t will have no trouble following “Bubba’s Revenge.” The show is written to stand on its own by reviewing the history of each Angel.

“No one in the audience should feel like they need to know what happened in earlier shows to enjoy this,” said Gary Kekel, who is also managing director of SCT.

He said there was never any doubt that the theater would complete the trilogy.

“Bringing this cast and crew back together is just a barrel of fun,” he said. “The previous two installments [the original and the ‘Holiday Spectacular’] were so popular, it was only fitting that we complete the trilogy, and have some more fun with the fnal chapter. And the Bobcats always enjoy getting back together.”

The Bobcats include Steve Ley on drums, DJ DePanicis on guitars, Ed Koran on pedal steel and fiddle, and Nate Gelfand on bass, plus Kekel on keyboards.