Uwharrie Players ‘deep-fried’ in rehearsals for comedy

Published 9:24 am Thursday, March 21, 2024

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The Uwharrie Players will present “Southern Fried Nuptials” April 5-7 and April 12-14 at the Albemarle Neighborhood Theatre.

Harlene Frye is going to marry her childhood sweetheart … assuming the typical Frye family hijinks don’t derail the wedding. Harlene and Attie’s future together is threatened when the bride-to-be’s awful ex-flame shows up with information she doesn’t want her fiancé finding out.

And Harlene’s not the only Frye keeping secrets: Sammy Jo refuses to tell her family she’s moving even though all her bags are already packed. As if that isn’t enough, Dewey can’t figure out why people keep on asking him to give his sister away and busybody Ozella Meeks has somehow ended up as the wedding coordinator.

Will the Fryes be able to get Harlene down the aisle in one piece?

“Southern Fried Nuptials” will be the directorial debut for Lacey Whittaker, although she is no stranger to the stage. She began her career with the West Stanly Players, under the direction of the late Jim Kennedy, who inspired a love of theatre that has traveled with her from Stanly County and back again.

“This hilarious show will remind you of your favorite TV sitcom,” Whittaker said. “The characters are relatable and the hi-jinks that ensue will keep you laughing. One line in the show that stands out is, ‘Everybody needs a little happy,’ which is something I think we can all agree with. I am also very proud of the cast and crew and my incomparable stage manager Sarah Tysinger.”

“Southern Fried Nuptials” will run at 7:30 p.m. April 5-6 and April 12-13 and at 3 p.m. April 7 and April 14 at the Albemarle Neighborhood Theatre, 219 E. North St., Albemarle.

Tickets are available now at TheUwharriePlayers.org and at Livi Bug’s Boutique in Downtown Albemarle. Tickets are also available at the door and there will be a special “Buy One, Get One” night on April 6.

The cast of “Southern Fried Nuptials” includes: Herchelle Smith as Harlene Frye, Matthew Smith as Attie Van Leer, Debbie Williams as Dorothy Frye, Kara Barnette as Sammy Jo Frye-Lefette, Tyler Poplin as Dewey Frye Jr., Suzanne Holshouser as Martha Ann Fox, Victoria Powell as Fairy June Cooper, Steve Tucker as Beecham Lefette, Robin Rogers as Ozella Meeks, Tommy Johnson as Vester Pickens and Todd Basinger as Carter Canfield.

The Uwharrie Players will also present “The Addams Family the Musical” this summer and “Four Old Broads” this fall.