By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN – In its final production of 2007, the Tin Shop Theatre in Buchanan is ending the year on a comical note.
Beginning Sept. 13, the theatre will present Male Order Brides, a story about four brides who catch the eyes of four love-starved citizens. The guys think they have found the woman of their dreams, but little do they know the four brides are all the same person.
Local lawyer Big Harry Deal has hired an actress, Starr Billings (played by Rebecca Skinner), to impersonate the four fiancees. With her beauty, good looks and sense of intelligence, Billings has no problem reeling in the men. Big Harry's plot is to kill the four men who marry her and claim their money and properties. The hilarious climax with all four fiancees seen simultaneously (in a frenzy of costume changes) is sure to make you think twice before saying "I do."
Rebecca, who lives in Niles with her husband, Ryan, admitted this is the most difficult play she has done. Not only is she playing the four fiancees and the villainess, but she also has two other roles.
"I'm not worried at all about forgetting my lines or which character I am supposed to be. I have different outfits and accents for each role so it's not hard to tell them apart. What I am worried about is getting in and out of all the costumes," Rebecca said.
On set, Rebecca is responsible for the characters of Ima Blue, Indigo Bloodline, Modesty Virtue, Lola Palooza and Golda Miner, as well as having a vaudeville part.
Her husband plays Grubby Shurtz, a widower in search of a new bride.
"He's great, but he causes a lot of problems on set because he is so funny and is always making people laugh. But I enjoy working with him a lot," Rebecca said.
Other cast members include Samantha Blevins (Calico Shurtz, daughter of Grubby Shurtz), Shane DeMeulenaere (C.D. Nichols, bachelor), Alex Garrard (Forrest Green, hero and bachelor), Brian Beckwith (Lucky Betts, Saloon owner and bachelor), David Ferrell (Big Harry Deal, lawyer and villain), Marsha Gorbitz (Tiara Rinestone, Saloon girl), Danielle Miller (Saloon girl, Trinket La-Glitz). Vaudevilles include Sarah Dickey, Patrick Ward, Dylan Catalano, Stuart Holston, Lindsey Hollister and Mayde and Mackenzie Elhers.
The play, directed by Leslie Barthell and co-directed by Dickey can be seen on Thursday, Sept. 13, Friday Sept 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. It will also be held on Thursday, Sept. 20 and Friday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $9 for students ages 13-19 and $9 for senior citizens. Children 10 and under are $5. For reservations, call 695-6464 Wednesday-Saturday from 6-7:30 p.m.