VWCT announces info for newest play

Van Wert Civic Theatre information

The world is coming to an end. You have one day left.  What do you do?

This is the question tackled by the Van Wert Civic Theatre’s production of Bruce Graham’s apocalyptic “dramedy”, Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille.

Forget mass hysteria and anarchy in the streets. If your name is Shep and you tend bar in western Pennsylvania, it’s one last day of business and some rather odd decisions.

Graham’s intelligent and humorous script keeps everything low-key. The reason for Armageddon is mostly ambiguous, other than it appears to be manmade. But that’s not the focus of the play.  Instead, it zeroes in on a well-defined group of strangely upbeat small town folk as they, unceremoniously and humorously, come to grips with their impending doom.

The story follows the characters through their interactions with easy-going bartender Shep (played by Dan Hirn). There’s Roy, the fireman (Steve Lane) playing one last winner-take-all hand of cards; Willy (Perry Luhn), the local marksman intent on offing his dentist before the end arrives; Shirley (Amber Evans), the barmaid hoping to have a wild goodbye fling; Bullard (Doug Grooms), the traveling salesman in denial and just passing through; and Virginia (Jamie Allen-Ream), the high school gym teacher determined to head out west to be with her family.

Then God walks into the bar. It’s the start of a really bad joke. But Joe (Chris Lybold) isn’t joking.  And he has an out-of-this-world proposition for the bartender and the teacher. Will they accept his zany offer? Will any of them survive the evening? What do you believe?

Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grille is directed by George Dunster and produced by special arrangement with Samuel French.

Production dates are March 12-15 and 19-22. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 in the afternoon.

Tickets can be reserved by calling the Box Office between 2-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at 419.238.9689. All seats are $10.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but seating may be limited. For more information, visit the Van Wert Civic Theatre website at vwct.org.