By Anne Payne

The Orange Leader

 

If you did not get a chance to see the Service League of Orange’s Follies’ show on Sat., April 29, you missed a pea-pickin’ good time!  The show was assisted by many from The Orange Community Players, an active community theater since 1950.  The theme was “Hee-Haw,” patterned after the television show of many years ago.  Masters of Ceremonies were Roy Clark (Mike Hennigan) and Buck Owens (Russell Perry).  There were even gospel singers, a corn stalk patch with jokesters popping up and down, folks singing some songs of Loretta Lynn (Kimberly Murray), Tammy Wynette (Tanya Guillote), George Jones (Brit Godwin), Tanya Tucker (Daelyn Perry), Willie Nelson (Paul Burch), Archie Campbell (Mike Hudnall), Grandpa Jones (Jim Brown), and even a Junior Samples (Dexter Broussard), all doing an outstanding job! The Hee-Haw Honeys, composed of Rita Ballard, Nitia Smith, and Jennifer McConnell, appeared to be a favorite of a packed Lutcher Theater, along with Lulu Roman (Joyce Holden), Minnie Pearl (Judy Smith), Samuel B. Sternwheeler (Monte Morphew), and the cute chickie girl with the Salute sign, Brenna Smith! Not to be forgotten were the three dance companies and the pink piggies’ kick-line of League members dancing to “Footloose,” made famous by Kevin Bacon!  The League even got KOGT’s Gary Stelly to play the announcer on KORN, Hee-Haw’s station.

This could be labeled as family entertainment at its best.  Unfortunately, this event called The Follies but formerly called The Red Silk Stocking Review, only takes place once every three years due to the amount of preparation required. All proceeds go directly back into the community to such endeavors as Orange Christian Services, Salvation Army, Fields-a-Plenty, Elder Fun, Art in Schools, Kingdom Zoo, Shangri-La, Senior Scholarships, and other philanthropies.  Rico and Cindy Vasquez directed this year’s show, along with Codie Vasquez and Nancy Shawhan Follies’ Chair and Co-chair, respectively.

Codie Vasquez, Lois Ferrell, and Nancy Sheehan roundedout the Production Team.

Some sustainers were heard to say:  “It was the best show since the 1980’s!” or “I really loved the show!” and finally, “I enjoyed the gospel singers the most!”

I say it was a “hair-raising” good ole’ time!

Kudos to all!  Special kudos go to the talented actors, actresses, and singers from OCP, since there would not have been a show without all of OCP!  Until 2020, good-bye!