Ottumwa Community Players return after 4 years, bid farewell to beloved venue

Mar. 18—OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Community Players are back for the first time since COVID, and it's both a triumphant return and a fond farewell.

The theater company will kick off 2024 with "Carol Burnett Comedy Evenings," a set of skits from the "Carol Burnett Show," taking place on March 22-23.

According to director Alice Richardson, the enthusiasm has been high for a triumphant return from a four-year hiatus. There were plans for a production of "Calendar Girls" last year, but these were scrapped. Richardson says that she's optimistic about this production, and its ability to boost membership

"Through the years, Ottumwa Community players have ranged from 100-200 members, and then our patrons and benefactors have numbered in the 2-3-400s, but right now — for quite a while right now — we're low on our membership," Richardson said. "But when we start doing things like this Carol Burnett thing... we have a lot of excitement building in Ottumwa.

"They'd rather not see them die after 70 years," she said.

There are ten sketches from the classic comedy show scheduled, including: "Fireside Girl," "Prison Nudge" and "The Exterminator." Auditions began in late January and from the beginning, Richardson said the enthusiasm from the cast and crew has been high. And as the temperatures dipped, showing up was proof enough of their dedication

"When they showed that night when it was -20 for auditions, I said, 'I don't care who you are — you're in the play," she said.

"And they were wonderful. They stepped right in and they were funny," Richardson added. "That's what I'm always looking for — someone funny."

But it's a bittersweet occasion for the theater family, as it also marks their last performance in Hotel Ottumwa ballroom before it's converted to affordable housing. It's been the custom for as long as anyone at OCP can remember to hold a play there, with some of their fondest memories being at the hotel.

There were times when the hotel was not only a venue, but a haven from day-to-day stress, or where they could get a meal in the Tom Tom Tap in the building after rehearsals, when all the other spots in town had closed.

"The Hotel Ottumwa has always been very supportive of community and other community organizations in allowing us to practice there, rehearse there, or if they have a room available, or do their productions there," said Karen Merchant, a longstanding actress with OCP. "And that's what we're going to miss the most about Hotel Ottumwa... once the new owners take over.

"It's a piece of history in Ottumwa and it will always be a piece of history, but in terms of community relationship, that's all going to be gone when that new ownership takes over," Merchant added. "There's going to be a lot of people affected by it."

However, the OCP family is determined to send Hotel Ottumwa off in style. To help them bring the laughs, City Administrator Philip Rath is going to be part of the production. According to Rath, he has a long history of participation in, and enjoyment of theater. When they offered him a place in the production he couldn't say "no," especially after he was the one to pitch the idea of Carol Burnett.

"It's just exciting for me to be part of the community and get into something I love to do with the local group here," Rath said. "And so, you know, it's great to know that we're going to have the theater back and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Productions will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Ottumwa Community Children's Playhouse is also resuming productions, wth the curtain going up for "The Goodcheer Home for Broken Hearts" at the Bridge View Center in April.

"We're grateful to still be a group, and we're not going to give up," Richardson said. "We're going to press on — move on — whatever you want to call it."