Life
By Eric Robinette
Staff Writer
SPRINGBORO — La Comedia patrons know the dinner theater well for second helpings from its buffet line. Now, however, another second helping is being served on the stage.
“A Second Helping: The Church Basement Ladies Sequel” plays at the theater through Oct. 30. The show follows up the action in “Church Basement Ladies,” in which a young girl was getting married and various hijinks ensue among the ladies of a Lutheran church. That play spanned the mid-’60s; this one picks up where that one left off, spanning the late-’60s and early-’70s.
Because the last show left off with a marriage, the new show picks up with a baby. Most of the cast of the 2010 show returns, including Becky Barrett-Jones, who plays one of the church basement ladies.
“In the first show, I was next in line to run the kitchen (in the basement). Now she’s running the kitchen ... This time the big news is that the young girl is pregnant,” she said referring to Beverly, played by Kara Cover of Monroe. Cover is the one new addition to the cast.
Barrett-Jones said, “It feels great. I spent six and a half months on this on tour, as well, and did the sequel for four months. It feels nice to come back with most of the original group.”
Another member of that group, Chris Kramer of Hamilton, plays the one male character of the show, Pastor Gunderson. Although Kramer grew up Catholic, he was able to mine his experience to play the Lutheran priest.
“I just thought about all the different priests I’ve known through the years and how those priests reacted to the changing times back then,” he said.
Barrett-Jones said the sequel is pretty similar to the first show, with a few differences.
“The humor is still there, but this story has more of a through-line. It’s hysterical, but it’s meatier,” she said.
La Comedia serves a dinner or brunch buffet followed by the show. Call (937) 746-4554 for tickets or more information.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio. com.