By JACK PALMER
palmer@crescent-news.com
HICKSVILLE -- A Sherwood-area church group is putting its faith into action by helping Hicksville Relay for Life.
Calling themselves the "Mystery Players," the group from St. John Lutheran Church on Openlander Road will present the hillbilly mystery comedy "Who Dun Stole the Bride?" as part of a dinner theater fund-raiser.
The event will be held Sunday at 6 p.m. in the Huber Opera House and Civic Center in Hicksville.
"We are very excited about this event and very appreciative of the people at St. John Lutheran Church in Sherwood," said Heather Timbrook, chairman of the Hicksville Relay for Life.
"It should be a great evening."
The play chronicles the saga of country folks and city slickers who come together to wed their children, trying to overcome their sociological, economic and cultural differences in the meantime. With a combination of mystery and laughs, the audience joins in to determine who "dun stole the bride."
"We performed this twice at our church in March and donated all proceeds to two local food banks," said co-director Kelley Phillips. "We readily agreed to give it again for the benefit of Hicksville Relay for Life."
Phillips said the St. John congregation has lost several members to cancer, including Roger Cook and Pat Baden in recent months.
"We are honored to do this," said Phillips. "It's a chance to give back to the community."
The cost of the dinner theater is $18, which includes a full course broasted chicken dinner catered by Yoder's Restaurant. Seats for the dinner must be purchased in advance. Appetizers start at 6 p.m.
Play-only general admission tickets will be available at the door for $7.50. Doors for general admission open at 7:15 p.m. and the play starts at 7:30 p.m.
The play's plot is the classic battle of North vs. South, big city vs. rural. When country gal Katie Sue (Mickie Zeedyk) and classy Bill (Tyler Miller) get a hankerin' to tie the knot, not everyone jumps for joy. Katie's family members (Kathy Holtsberry, Tim Miller, Morgan Pendleton, Don Hange, Heaven Holtsberry) are suspicious of Bill's snobby family (Tim Pendleton, Patti Garrigus, Jeff Hange) from over yonder, while Bill's high society clan thinks the Eckley family isn't of their caliber.
Just as the couple is fixing to get hitched, Katie disappears. Is she a runaway bride who got cold feet? If not, who dun it? Is it wild and crazy Bob who has been swooning for her? How about Bill's too-good family? Will there be a wedding performed by the Reverend (Roger Zeedyk)?
The play is directed by Bretta Pendleton and Phillips.
For dinner theater tickets, call Phillips at 419-899-4636, the Posey Peddler in Hicksville at 419-542-7153, or the Huber Opera House and Civic Center at 419-542-9553.