by Cyndie Maxwell

This English comedy follows the adventures of three elderly English ladies who have escaped from a retirement/detention home in a rowboat. They drift down the coast and finally reach the shore near a coastal village in Suffolk.

The play opens with their discovery of an empty and apparently abandoned cottage. As they fantasize how lovely it would be if they owned the house, the owner appears, dies of a heart attack, and of course, they throw him in a well. Wouldn’t you?

“Too Soon For Daisies” cast

The secretive ladies all have their own personalities and quirks. The dominant one is played by Jeanne Ball, the sappy, romantic poet is played by Beth Reynolds, and RaeLynn Royer portrays the more criminally minded element in the group. Of our three ladies, Beth has been seen with the Kings Players many times over the last 20 years. Jeanne made an appearance in 2006 in Moon Over Buffalo, and RayLynn is new to our stage – and claims she’s having a good time! The ladies have great comic chemistry and keep you laughing with their antics.

The cottage is located in a small village where everyone knows everyone’s everything. Some of the curious townsfolk are Dr. John Hunter played by Mike Spicer, the only-too-helpful handyman played by PJ Wilder, and Dennis David as the local but fairly ineffective law enforcement. To stir things up even more, the niece of the deceased is an unexpected and unwelcome surprise to the trio, played by Christa Van Gemert who has been seen singing and dancing many times, but this is her first as an actor. Our friend John C. Rabe says this is one of the easiest roles he’s played – as the dead bloke.

Show dates are February 23, 24, March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18. Sundays are 2:00 p.m. matinees and Friday and Saturday begin at 7:30 p.m. The Temple Theater is located at 514 E. Visalia Street in downtown Hanfor, CA. For reservations go to: kingsplayers.net or call 584-7241 for assistance.

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