By LOIS KINDLE
The Pelican Players will feature a double feature Nov. 6 with the presentation of “Fool Me Once,” followed by The “Speeding Ticket.” The doors open at 6 p.m., and the curtain rises at 6:30. Admission is free.
Directed by Carlyn Postle, “Fool Me Once” is the story of recently widowed Henrietta, who falls for four different kinds of fraud, only to be saved just in time by streetwise detective Sam Scam.
DONNA FIORE PHOTO
SCC Community Resource Deputy Jeff Merry, of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, is shown here with a prop for the Pelican Players’ Nov. 6 presentation of “The Speeding Ticket.”
While the 25-minute presentation is lighthearted, the subject matter is serious. The swindles included in the play include construction fraud, identity theft, credit card fraud and funeral fraud. All of these frauds are among those currently being committed in Sun City Center, said Community Resource Deputy Jeff Merry.
“We wanted to do this as a public service,” said Rick Svenson,” Pelican Players president.
“The Speeding Ticket” will follow immediately.
“It’s a delightful and very funny 10-minute play about a sweet little grandmother named Starlight Moon who’s stopped for speeding and will say just about anything to avoid getting a ticket,” said Donna Fiore, the play’s director. “It’s for audience [members]to decide just how sweet she is.
Everyone will love it!” she said.
Both plays are being performed with special permission from ArtAge Publications’ Senior Theater Resource Center, Svensen said. Two local benefactors, Janice Bayruns, owner of FirstLight Homecare of Southern Hillsborough County, and Christina Cieslik, owner of NextStage Senior Solutions, donated funding for rights to produce these plays.
The Pelican Players is a 501(c)(3) community theater group that was founded in 1981. Proceeds from its stage productions, for-hire murder mystery dinner theaters and Cabaret Singers go into a Community Foundation of Tampa Bay fund to provide scholarships to Hillsborough County students pursuing careers in the arts.
The group has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship funding since its inception. Actors, stagehands and others willing to help with set design or costuming are always needed. Experience is helpful but not required, and all area residents are invited to participate and join.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Members of the Pelican Players gather for a group photo prior to rehearsing “Fool Me Once.” In the front row, from left, are Wendy Smith, Carol MacAlister, Mary Anne Moseley, Delyse Axin, Kim Droege, Judy Rodman and Carlyn Postle. In the back row are James Williams, Shirley Walker, Jimmy Sapia, Kevin Steinke, Guy Bailey, Linda Stone and Keith Postle. The play will be presented Nov. 6 at the Kings Point Veterans Theater.
For more information on the Pelican Players, visit www.pelicanplayersscc.org.
“Fool Me Once” cast
Kevin Steinke, Sam Scam
Kim Droege, Doris
Delyse Axin, Henrietta
James Williams, Mr. Vecino
Carol MacAllister, Ms. Doscara
Mary Anne Moseley, Leonora
Jimmy Sapia, Martin Rivas
Judy Rodman, Dana Cashola
Wendy Smith, B.D. Mettisin
Shirley Walker, Donut Hole C.S.R.
James Moseley, Rusty Bentnail
“The Speeding Ticket” cast
Mary Anne Moseley, Starlight Moon
Jeff Merry, Officer Brady
Peg Goodenow, Capt. Ellen
Production team for both plays
Mary Banaszak, producer
Shirley Walker, assistant director
Linda Stone, stage manager
Keith Postle, sound engineer
Laurie Failing, sound effects
