Get ready for ‘Four Weddings & an Elvis’

PRESCOTT – By this time of year, we’re all ready for an escape from the doldrums of winter. The Great River Road Theatre has just the ticket for you.

The 30-year-old community theatre group will perform a rollicking comedic farce called “Four Weddings & an Elvis,” paired with a delicious meal at The Old Ptacek’s Event Center March 9-12 and March 16-19.

“It’s more of a farce,” said Director Judy Johnson. “It’s funny because the cast is making it funny. We have a very good cast.”

Johnson is joined by long-time theatre members Ken Roen and Marie-Anne Deiss as assistant directors. The production centers on a wedding chapel in Las Vegas, whose owner provides weddings for celebrity couples. Some couples want to be married by a celebrity, others by none other than Elvis, of course.

“They’re a rare breed of people,” said Roen of the characters.

The chapel owner (played by Missy Kowalczyk), has been married four times herself, but her latest husband is drunk all the time and can’t help her at the chapel. She’s looking for a fifth husband, hoping he’ll be “the one.”

“Because the fifth husband is going to be the charm,” Johnson said. “The couples who come to get married by her are very interesting to say the least.”

“It’s rather hard to explain, but you have to see it to enjoy it,” Roen said.

Johnson assures attendees the show is not just for women.

“Some people hear about this show and think it’s a girly, girly show or a mushy, mushy show. It’s a funny, good humor show,” Johnson said.

“A little off color, but not too much,” Roen added.

Jeff Pajac, of Ellsworth, plays Elvis. Former colleague Kowalczyk called him up one day and asked him if he’d be interested. “I thought, ‘I think this could be fun.’ So here we are,” Pajac said. “I haven’t acted since high school.”

Johnson described Kowalczyk as the star of the show, the chapel owner who is in the middle of everything.

“Missy is doing one heck of a fine job,” Johnson said. “She’s in all of the acts.”

She is joined by several interesting couples, including Stan and Bev (played by Audra Mercord and Chris Lamb). They’re a younger couple who are trying to get payback on people who have done them wrong.

The next couple is Vanessa and Bryce Cannon, played by Elizabeth Gehrke and Mark Andrle. Johnson described them as “has-been actors all washed up.”

Finally, Krista Christiansen and Scott Halverson play the odd couple of a postal worker and a biker mom. The cast is rounded out by tough guy Fist, played by Al Canfield; the groom and comic relief, played by Dave Schultz; and Roen, who is a policeman.

Johnson selected this play with a young man from her church in mind for Elvis. However, he moved and a new Elvis had to be found.

“Jeff is fun. He’s going to be really good,” Johnson promised. “Sometimes you see a show and you read it, and you just got to do this one. I liked the way my mind was visualizing the characters. I knew that we had a cast to pull this off.”

Roen agreed. He said everyone is perfect for their parts.

“They’re all fitted for what they’re doing,” he said.

“I’m very picky about that. If your personality can’t fit the character, then you can’t play that character,” Johnson said. “It kind of gives you an escape from all the cares and woes you’re going through. Like a big wonderful, dream.”

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. March 9-11 and March 16-18, with the performance at 7 p.m. Matinees will be performed at 1 p.m. Sunday March 12 and 19, preceded by a catered lunch. Dinner menus will include baked chicken or fish, roast beef, scalloped potatoes, dressing, green beans, coleslaw and cookies. The luncheon option features hot beef sandwiches, scalloped potatoes, coleslaw and cookies.

Tickets are $40 for dinner and $26 for lunch performances; they can be purchased online at www.ptaceksiga.com To learn more about Great River Road Theatre, which was founded in 1992, visit greatriverroadtheatre.org