Video: Reading Community Theatre returns with The Lottie & Bernice Show

Mar. 26—READING — After a five-year hiatus, the Reading Community Theatre returns with a comedy sure to beat away the blues from a bout of late winter weather.

The Lottie & Bernice Show will take the stage at the Reading Community Center for three performances — two dinner and a show events on April 5 and 6, and a Sunday afternoon matinee with complimentary pop and popcorn on April 7.

Directed this year by Marla Somnis, the show was ready to be performed in 2020 and then the global pandemic hit and everything shut down.

"We paid the royalties and we decided to do it now," shared Somnis, noting the royalties were non-refundable.

She said the show is filled with a lot of laughs, and encourages people to get their tickets early before they sell out.

Set in Buffalo, New York, the play's lead characters are two old Polish women who have been friends since birth. Jill Cuperus portrays Bernice and Jacki Bomgaars is in the role of Lottie — and in real life, they have been friends for a long time.

Lottie and Bernice get stranded in Buffalo during a major winter storm and are transported from a local gas station to Buffalo's television news station by the station assistant, who feels sorry for them but has to get to work.

Other people can't get in because of the snowstorm, so Lottie and Bernice are called into action — and they're very opinionated!

Neither one has experience giving the news but they are suddenly cast into the lead roles in a call-in advice show called the Buffalo Yak — What's your Beef, Buffalo?

"We also do a short exercise segment and a cooking segment," shared Cuperus.

"And the janitors (Chip Peters and David Janssen) also get recruited to do commentary," added Somnis.

Rounding out the cast are the television station manager (Bruce Brunk), the assistant (Scott Brunk) and a wannabe newscaster and intern (Amy Stefferud).

"She gets them in trouble when she gets on the news," Somnis said.

Cuperus, who is making her third or fourth appearance with the Reading Community Theatre, said it's been a lot of fun to get back into performing after a five-year break.

"We're all good friends," she said of the cast. "I think the reason we probably didn't come back (sooner) is a lot of us have young kids. It was hard to get back in.

"We're just excited to be on stage," she added. "It's our biggest fundraiser of the year and we've missed it for five years."

Proceeds from ticket sales are used to cover expenses for the Reading Community Center, which is a former school building. Cuperus said it's taken a lot of volunteer hours to keep the center going since the pandemic impacted the building's use.

"It's going to be a really funny show ... with good food and good friends," she said.

Performances last about two hours, including an intermission. The Friday and Saturday night meal includes a ribeye steak sandwich prepared by the Rock-Nobles Cattlemen, along with a baked potato, dinner salad, coffee or water. The Sunday matinee will feature complimentary pop and popcorn. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the evening performances and meal, with the show to start at 7 p.m. Sunday's matinee starts at 2 p.m.

JD Productions is providing the sound for the three performances, and audiences can expect several cameo appearances by children of the cast members during the shows.

"We'd like to say thank you for all of the donations of time and talent — giving up family time — monetary donations, the Cattlemen and JD (Productions), and all of the people that show up every year to work," Somnis shared.

While Bomgaars and Janssen are new to the Reading Community Theatre, each has previous experience in plays. Peters, Stefferud, the Brunks and Somnis all have been involved with the local theatre group for more than 15 years.

To reserve tickets for any of the three performances, contact Mary Brunk at (507) 370-1007.