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Pelican Players Present Season's First Play

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By PAUL CATALA THE SUN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

For nearly 30 years, they've entertained audiences from Sun City Center and around the Tampa Bay area.

And in the process, they've awarded more than $350,000 to area students through their talents.

As well as being skilled actors, The Pelican Players - a nonprofit stage production group - has become a steady contributor to local academics through its scholarship program.

The entertainment and education tradition continues, when "Dearly Departed," The Pelican Players' latest production, hits the stage in the Kings Point Clubhouse's Borini Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The play is the first production in their 2008 season and also will be performed at 7 p.m., Nov. 22 and 1:30 p.m., Nov. 23, in the Riverside Clubhouse, Riverside Club Golf & Boating Resort, 2550 Pier Dr., Ruskin.

Written by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, the comedy takes place in the rural Bible Belt of the Deep South, where the dysfunctional Turpin family shows how living and dying can be rather untidy and funny.

During a rehearsal for "Dearly Departed," about 30 of the approximately 140 members of The Pelican Players - Hillsborough County's second-oldest, still-active theater group - went through a costumed run-through of their lines. As they did, director Judy Branch, in her first season with The Pelican Players, gave direction and tips.

"OK, lights up. That's your cue. OK, ready," she said, as actors Judy Maser and Rex Hall took to the stage and began saying their lines. "Both of you need to project much faster."

The two performers went through their lines again and Branch, who spent 30 years acting and directing in Atlanta, paused between scenes.

"I've done this play twice and it's funny from the first read-through up to the performance," said Branch, who has personally performed in "Dearly Departed." "I still laugh at it, even after seeing it a billion times."

Although Sun City Center is restricted to those 55 and over, The Pelican Players is open to all ages. Branch said that gives the group more flexibility in what plays they chose to do and also helps promote the theater group's scholarship program.

This year, the scholarships went to 21 students at Lennard, East Bay and Riverview high schools. Each scholarship is $1,000 per semester, over four years.

Chuck Wirick, in his fourth year at The Pelican Players' president, said one or the objectives is to get younger people interested in community theater. He said besides Sun City Center, actors come from Apollo Beach, Wimauma and Ruskin and many of them come from metropolitan cities with numerous community theater groups.

"We have the use of a spectacular facility and we appeal to younger people who come from communities where community theater is important," Wirick said.

"Dearly Departed" follows The Pelican Players' presentation of "Sex After 60?" last spring. Following "Dearly Departed" the drama company plans to do a series of one-act plays in spring 2009 and the annual Follies show in the winter.

Wirick said The Pelican Players are always looking for new members to help on- and off-stage.

Tickets are $9 for "Dearly Departed" and information on The Pelican Players or "Dearly Departed," call (813) 633-1753.

Reporter Paul Catala can be reached at (813) 865-1554 or pcatala@mediageneral.com

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