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Vol. 20, No. 23, Wednesday, March 12, 2025 www.LamontLeader.com
Chipman Players provide kicks on Route 66 BY JOHN MATHER It’s becoming an annual tradition marking the start of spring. The Chipman Players launched the latest version of their theatre escapades on March 8, with the presentation of “It Happened on Route 66.” The play doesn’t really show a plot direction until the very end of the play when characters fall in love with each other all over the place. But leading up to that conclusion, the play does leave the audience guessing as to what is going on and where the play is going. But, as they say “getting there is half the fun” and the Chipman troupe certainly doesn’t let the audience down in that regard. Bruce McGregor and Tom Hrehorets are back playing zany characters with McGregor in the role of “Cookie”, owner of the diner along Route 66 in Winona, Arizona where all the action takes place. Hrehorets is Otis, a regular at the diner who won’t move from his stool as long as he continues to qualify for his all you can eat meal status. Throughout the two act production, he samples every variety of fare Cookie can conjure up. Terry Andriuk, a five year veteran, with the Players is “Lovey Lamour”, a Hollywood star who is supposed to be in a high profile wedding with Johnny Jerome played by Keiron Willis, but has bailed on the wedding because of jilted love and is escaping east when her vehicle breaks down and she finds herself in Cookie’s Diner. Jo-Ann Fontaine plays “Babs,” a hapless mechanic who will either try or not try to repair Lamour’s vehicle, depending on who pays more. Joyce Doberstein plays “Sally” the waitress in the Diner who is in love with Roscoe, played by Allan Engman. He wants to move to Chicago to pur-
Newly hired ‘waitress’ who is really “Lovey Lamour,” played by Terry Andriuk hides her face as she approaches news sleuth “Twyla” played by Caren Cossey-Kwasnycia, left, while other cast members watch in the Chipman Players production of “It Happened on Route 66” March 8 at the Chipman National Hall. A full house came out to watch the first performance of the four evening play. Two more performances take place this Friday and Saturday. sue a career as an architect. Of the main characters Caren Cossey-Kwasnycia rounds them out as Twyla,, a reporter/photographer for a gossip magazine hot on the trail of Lovey Lamour. Lamour disguises herself as a waitress in the short-staffed diner and the fun begins with one liners and ad libs abounding. Others starring in the show include Anastazia Engman, Mary-Ellen Williams as Maxine, Keiron Willis as Fred and Johnny Jerome, and Mo Thompson as Earl and Elvis. Prior to the start of the performance the audience is treated to an excellent meal prepared by Tom’s Catering. In all it makes for an excellent evening of fun. There are two performances of the production left, taking place March 14 with doors opening at 6:30 p..m and the performance starting at 8:30, and on March 15 with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Doors for the final performance open at 5:30 p.m.
All performances are Chipman National Hall.
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Cookie, played by Bruce McGregor, chats with audience members during the intermission of the Chipman Players production of “It Happened on Route 66.”