ANNA MARIA – The Island Players’ hurricane-delayed production of “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” opened on Nov. 13, and it was worth the wait.
The performances will continue through Sunday, Nov. 23.
Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten and premiered in Texas in 2017, the Island Players production is co-produced by the Off Stage Ladies of The Island Players and directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland.
The southern-fried comedy tells the laugh-out-loud tale of a 10-resident mobile home community that seeks county commission approval to be officially incorporated as the independent town of Doublewide, Texas. And as Christmas approaches, they’re running out of time to meet the county’s make-or-break, year-end deadline to complete the ever-shifting incorporation process.
In a funny and entertaining manner, “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” explores small town economics and politics, the fight for home rule rights and the threat of consolidation – issues that hit close to home on Anna Maria Island due to the real-life challenges the three Island cities have faced from state legislators and county commissioners in recent years.
Like the fictional inhabitants of Doublewide, the Island Players production of “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” is an exhibition of persistence and resilience. The play was first cast in September 2024 but production shut down after two rehearsals due to the damage Hurricanes Helene and Milton inflicted on the Island – while sparing the city-owned performing arts theater of any major damage.
Last month, the entire cast resumed the long-delayed rehearsals that led to their triumphant opening night performance.
“The cast is fantastic,” Woodland said when discussing the play. “This is the same cast from a year ago.
They stayed in touch with each other and built those relationships that come across on the stage. It’s a play about relationships and people taking up for each other and building a community; and they have done that.
“It’s a very funny play and it’s funny because the characters are funny people with large personalities. The costumes are a hoot. There’s over 100 costume pieces and there’s some specialty costumes and specialty props that are fun and funny,” she said.
“There’s a lot of unique and interesting set pieces too,” Woodland said of the primary setting in the mayor’s doublewide trailer home that’s also Doublewide’s town hall.
The mobile home/town hall interior includes a Christmas wreath made from a real Model-T tire, a mosaic painting of Elvis and a portrait of beloved Texan and presidential first lady, “Lady Bird” Johnson.
“I think the audiences are really going to like the play. It’s pretty wild and it moves pretty fast. It’s fun and heartwarming. I hope they feel the love and camaraderie between the characters and how people with extremely different personalities can come together to achieve a goal that benefits all of them,” Woodland said.
THE PLAYERS
The story begins with Big Ethel Satterwhite (played by Laura Morales) entering from the side of the stage and standing in front of the yet-to-be-opened curtain while addressing the audience that finds itself playing the role of the residents of the Stairway to Heaven retirement village where Big Ethel works. Ethel informs the retirement home residents of the potential gastrological, family and romantic perils the approaching holidays may bring.
Throughout the performance, the comedic action extends beyond the confines of the stage and out into the theater itself.
Sue Belvo plays Georgia Dean Rudd, a middle-aged woman who’s worked at Bronco Betty’s Buffeteria restaurant since she was 16. She hopes to one day own the local eatery and she still pines over Nash Sloggett, her “one that got away.”
Sadie Palmer plays Lark Barken, a recently widowed young woman who’s now raising her infant daughter, Arden Rose, alone. Lark also longs for Nash, who happens to be her long-lost father she’s never met.
Rick Kopp plays Haywood Sloggett, a widower who got a second chance in Doublewide despite his past undesirable behavior that included breaking up his son Nash’s blossoming romance with young Georgia Dean. Haywood hopes to bring Nash home for Christmas to help make things right.
Morgan Powis plays Joveeta Crumpler, the determined mayor of Doublewide, who’s doing everything in her power to overcome the county commission’s ever-changing, self-serving efforts to avoid incorporating the town.
Catherine Penta plays Caprice Crumpler, Joveeta’s drink-sneaking, attention-seeking mother who still clings to the sliver of glory she found as a small town, cable TV commercial actress.
Francesca Mendolia plays Patsy Price, Haywood’s bitter and downtrodden sister who arrives in Doublewide after being hoodwinked out of her money and shamed by her own behavior in Tugaloo – the neighboring town that hopes to annex Doublewide into its municipal tax base.
Mike Lusk plays Norwayne “Baby” Crumpler – Joveeta’s enthusiastic, energetic and dimwitted brother who serves as Doublewide’s police chief, fire chief and cleaner of septic tanks.
Mark Woodland plays the elusive Nash Sloggett, whose uncertain return to Doublewide is desired by many.
In their collective efforts to incorporate their town, the Doublewide inhabitants embark on a series of escapades as they try to increase the town’s revenues and raise the town’s profile as a tourist destination by developing a Texas-inspired, vegetable-based roadside attraction. At the last minute, an elusive, double-crossing county commissioner informs the residents that they must double Doublewide’s population as yet another stipulation of incorporation.
The desperate residents enter the town in a countywide, Texas-themed nativity scene contest that takes a disastrous turn that further impedes the path to incorporation. But despite the never-ending challenges and self-inflicted mishaps, the Doublewide residents never lose sight of their shared goal to make their hometown a bonafide Texas town.
TICKET SALES
Tickets for “A Doublewide, Texas Christmas” are $20-$30 dollars and can be purchased online at www.theislandplayers.org. After receiving your digital tickets by email, you can use your phone to display them when entering the theater. Digital tickets can also be printed at home in advance. Those who prefer traditional pre-printed tickets can purchase them at the box office beginning an hour before showtime or during normal box office hours, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
