Friday-Night Play Offers Taste of Southern Humor

The two-act comedy, Greater Tuna, promises enough satire in its Southern commentary to make even the sternest of people laugh. The play, based in the fictional town of Tuna Texas, is taking place at the Gilroy Center for the Arts Friday through Sunday.

The performance showcases Tuna’s small-town charm by highlighting wacky residents who are centered around the town’s local radio station. Scenes highlight the announcement of Tuna’s annual American heritage essay contest, with third place going to the writer of “The Other Side of Bigotry,” to a local radio advertiser named Deedee who owns a used-weapons store.

“Deedee says,‘You can browse our selection of guns and knives or find what you want in our mace and tear-gas section. Many people are leery of buying used weapons, but at Deedee’s, if you buy a weapon and you get home and it doesn’t kill, you bring it back and we’ll give you something that will,” recited Steve Spencer, who stars in the 19-character play with actor Dave Leon.

The play is sure to be a treat for comedy lovers, although it isn’t being performed merely for laughs. Ticket proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research—a disorder of the central nervous system that affects an estimated 500,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Spencer, a former speech pathologist for the Morgan Hill Unified School District, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in early 2005, and has since been working to raise funds for the foundation.

Greater Tuna is the third play Spencer has done for Parkinson’s research, and he’s hoping to bring in $7,500 for the weekend’s performances, which would contribute around $3,000 more to the foundation than either of the previous ones.

In an attempt to reach that goal, Spencer is incorporating raffles into the shows. An array of prizes donated by local businesses and individuals will be raffled off, with some donations coming from wineries, restaurants and nail salons.

“People have been very, very generous,” Spencer said. “For some people, this will be their third time donating some kind of goods or services.”

Spencer said the event wouldn’t be possible without the community’s help, adding that Kevin Heath of Limelight Actors Theater contributed tremendously in helping them secure the center as the venue.

“When we did a show for him, Love Letters, in February my wife and I had been batting around doing another fundraiser for the Fox foundation, [so] we approached Kevin and said, ‘You know, if we did that, would you help us out,’ and he said, 'Absolutely',” Spencer said.

Greater Tuna is the first of four comedic plays, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, and directed by Spencer's wife of 36 years, Kae Jenny-Spencer. For more information, refer to the Limelight Actors Theater website.

What: Greater Tuna

When: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Where:  At the Gilroy Center for the Arts, located on the corner of 7th and Monterey streets in Gilroy.

Pricing: $30 a ticket