The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, October 24, 1988, Page 4, Image 4
'Greater Tuna
By SCOTT PRUDEN
Staff writer
The Carolina Coliseum was hot, the seats were close,
and ancient country music was blaring over the
loudspeakers as the crowd of mostly older folks got settli
' 1 i 1 | | ? |
JAMES NETTLES/The Gamecock t
Bryan Foster plays Leonard Childers, the zany DJ at s
Tuna radio station OKKK in Thursday's performance of c
'Greater Tuna' at the Carolina Coliseum. n
Benson speaks ca
By MARY C. CARROLL speech on dealing witl
Staff writer He answered quest
Robby Benson rushed in and an hour, beginning wi
apologized profusely for being 40 here at USC. Benson s
minutes late. dent James Holderma
"I'm usually so prompt it's be USC's artist-in-re
disgusting," he said. "I thought it year,
was at seven." "The whole thing is
Benson came to the Calcott zare," Benson said,
Building Thursday night to give a had to do it.
group of journalism students a Benson, dressed liki
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' thrills Colii
ed. Sound like your worst concert-going nightmare?
Think again, gullible readers.
This was all in anticipation of Thursday's 8 p.m. performance
of Greater Tuna, which was brought to USC
by the Carolina Program Union's Cultural Arts
Committee.
Not, as some might think, a play about fish, Greater
Tuna centers around the greater Tuna area, Texas' third
smallest town, "where the Lions Club is too liberal and
Patsy Cline never dies." The cast of characters includes
just about every small town stereotype and eccentric you
could think of, managing to satirize most aspects of the
small-town lifestyle.
What? Satirize small-town southern life? Why,
Ashley, what in the world could anyone satirize about
lovely (fill in your own home town)?
Well, brothers and sisters, the fnllrc in thic chnm
make fun of just about everything by their portrayals of
the people of Tuna. The cheesy Leonard Childers hosts
the local radio call-in show, where citizens of Tuna ex:hange
gossip and slander their neighbors on the air. The
Rev. Spikes, head of the Smut Snatchers of the New
Drder, uses every cliche ever invented in one eulogy, all
jnder the adoring gaze of Vera Carp, the local "God
jroupie" and purveyor of nasty gossip. Didi Snavely,
jwner of the local weapons store, trips out on "nerve
)ills." And the list of characters goes on and on.
The truly remarkable thing about the whole concept
)f Greater Tuna, though, is that all of the characters in
his hilarious 99-minute program are played by only two
count'em, two) people. Bryan Foster, who has perform:d
Greater Tuna more than 400 times, handles what
:ould only be described as the short, fat characters,
vhile Duane Black, who has an extensive background in
:lassical and comedy theatre, takes on the roles of the
all, skinny characters. Both actors do an incredible job
>f making the distinction between the 10 characters
male, female and canine) that each one must play, and
ven seem to change their own facial features along with
he characters.
Speaking of character changes, the costuming crew
>ehind Greater Tuna also deserves a moment in the
potlight. Costume changes for different characters, inluding
getting in and out of wigs and dresses, were
nade with lightning speed, with most changes acindidly
to jouri
h the press. dent in acid-washed jeans and runnions
for about ing shoes, later surprised the auith
why he was dience by saying he was thinking
aid USC Presi- about continuing teaching at USC
n asked him to while also pursuing a degree in
:sidence for a medicine.
"I've always wanted to be a docextremely
biz- tor," Benson said.
but he felt he He said he wanted to get his degree
for his five-year-old daughter, Lyric.
i a college stu- "I want to teach my little girl
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leum audience
?? _?
complished in a matter of seconds. Those audience
members who failed to read the program before the performance
were convinced that the cast included at least
lalictc Qhnnt frnfl
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through example, not lecture. I don't agent or publicity
know if I can do it, or when," Ben- the media on his o\
son said, but he will probably give it "You have to o
a try. he said.
Benson said until he was 18 or 19, Benson related
he was the darling of the press, but perience with the pi
since then, he has also been the butt red m Mansion, ft
of some jokes. promoting his movi
"I don't enjoy being sliced up, but A television repoi
who does?" Benson said. to wear his running
Benson, who has never had a press view, so he relucta
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10 actors, positive that the actor that just left the stage as
one character could not emerge seconds later as another.
The technical requirements for Greater Tuna were
minimal, and the lack thereof served only to focus the
audience's attention on the amazing acting talents on
stage. There were a few tiny glitches with the sound, but
these were far overshadowed by the generally outstanding
quality of this side-splitting production.
ti, honesty
agent, deals with reporter began the interview by poinvn.
ting to Benson and saying, "Doesn't
ontrol yourself," he look silly? Isn't this pushing
things a bit too far?"
his worst ex- Benson said he "laid into him."
ess, which occur- "The people of Houston hate my
xas, when ne was guts now, and they should."
e Running Brave. When asked about the media in
:ter asked Benson
shorts to an inter- _ T
ntly agreed. The See BENSON page 5
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