Submitted photo
Cast members of “Always a Bridesmaid” are shown during a scene of the comedy at Willow Leaves of Hope.
Sometimes, local stage director and producer Naomi Fleetwood-Pyle finds new acting talent for her Actor’s Studio On Stage productions just a step away.
A clogging step, that is.
Fleetwood-Pyle, who also leads the Columbus Clogging Company, finds that her dancers generally already have mastered stage presence.
“Well, and they can’t run fast enough or far enough to get away from me,” Fleetwood-Pyle cracked.
This is to report that the performer has two first-time cast members in the latest local dinner theater comedy “Always a Bridesmaid” to be presented Friday through Sunday at Willow Leaves of Hope. Kathy Ripberger and Lagena DeRossett move from snappy footwork to snappy repartee.
Such as this line from Fleetwood-Pyle’s dry-witted character who is hostess at an event center for weddings and more: “Only a man who’s bald and with a beer gut can walk down the street and still think he’s sexy.”
Fleetwood-Pyle loves laughter as much as her audiences, which often are sellouts. She has discovered that her ticket buyers love a meal to stick to their ribs and a production to tickle their ribs.
“This one is not a slapstick style of comedy,” Fleetwood-Pyle said. “But I always love plays that are funny.”
In this production, four friends have vowed, ‘til death do they part, to keep the promise they made at a depressing senior prom: to be in each other’s weddings, no matter what. More than 30 years later, they’re still gathering and making the classic procession down the aisle — and doing so in rather unorthodox ways.
For instance, one character makes her wedding one with a French theme. But her misguided pals head to a costume shop for their matrimonial wardrobe. One dresses as Marie Antoinette. Another decks out like a can-can dancer.
The character of Monette brings some lovelorn levity to the show early on when she highlights some of her personal, wedded weirdness.
“Marrying right out of high school can’t be held against me,” she says. “It was six of the best weeks of my life until Trey violated his probation. And of course, my marriage to Vince bit the dust when I found out he’d been putting on my dresses and hitting the clubs every time I went out of town on business.
“Why I wasn’t suspicious when he bought so many oversized lace panties is beyond me.”
Fleetwood-Pyle has been presenting these shows since at least 2012. As far as she’s concerned, she might present them until time runs out, such is her exuberance for his style of showbiz.
“I simply appreciate,” she said, “that people still want to come out and to have a good meal and a good time with theater.”
About the show
What: Actors Studio On Stage presenting the dinner theater comedy “Always a Bridesmaid”
When: Friday through Sunday
Where: Willow Leaves of Hope, 326 Jackson St. on the historic Hope town square
Cast: Naomi Fleetwood-Pyle (also directing and producing); Falicia Whited; Marlee Davis; Kathy Ripberger; and Lagena De Rossett.
Information and reservations: 812-341-7251
