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Youngstown Playhouse Another fun visit to Tuna, Texas
By Eric McCrea
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown Playhouse’s “Tuna” series continues with the second installment – “A Tuna Christmas” – and the same high level of quality.
The action takes place in the quirky town of Tuna, Texas, where everyone is geared up for the annual yard display contest amid fears that the Christmas Phantom will strike another display before the winner is decided.
The colorful townsfolk bustle about trying to figure out who the mysterious phantom may be, while fighting to keep the lights on for the local production of Charlie Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
Director Pat Foltz once again helms an all-female cast – in which everyone plays multiple roles – to follow last year’s success with “Greater Tuna.”
Joining the cast this time is Jeanine Rees as a handsome and sentimental Arles Struvie. She is a natural as a radio host and a dark horse leading man, but her biggest laughs are as knee-high Farley and Phoebe Burkhalter.
Candace DiLullo’s use of inflection with Helen Budd is downright poetic. Most of her time is spent as the maternal Bertha Bumiller with closer-to-god hair. As Bertha, she interacts with the widest array of other characters and she creates a lot of depth in the process.
Joanna Andrei has the most roles with an astonishing five, and each one completely distinct. She shows range from the sultry Didi Snavely to the adorable Jody Bumiller. Her most complete character, and one of the best characters in the show, is Stanley Bumiller, who has struggles to complete his probation, and get out of town.
Molly Galano had a lot more dialog this year, opening the show with a banter-styled scene as Thurston Wheelis with cohost Arles. Her detailed, physical portrayal of Aunt Pearl is incredible.
Sculli has a way of stealing scenes and her masterpiece is Dixie Deberry whose altercation with Pearl was the funniest moment in the show.
“A Tuna Christmas” is nearly flawless and while I’m apprehensive about any further sequels, they will certainly be worth seeing if the Playhouse keeps this extraordinary approach intact.
“A Tuna Christmas” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, in the Moyer Room of the Youngstown Playhouse. For reservations, call 330-788-8739.