'Norma & Wanda' Ends Two-Week Run This Weekend in Hartland

The Basics

Norma & Wanda is an adult comedy that follows two extremely opposite sisters as they get themselves into an outrageous pickle with an old high school boyfriend, a chaotic church socialite and a secret family recipe for Christmas sausage.

The play opened last weekend and concludes this weekend with performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at . Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/students. Seating is reserved and available at both branches of the , by calling 810-632-5849 or upon availability just prior to curtain.

Performed by Hartland Players, Janet Winn is producer and Bob Hachlinski is the director.

Director Q&A

Q: Why did you pick the show, Bob?
A: "We picked the show for several reasons. Best reason — it's a riot. A fun show for both the audience and the cast. I think it's the best script Jeff Daniels has done since Escanaba in Da Moonlight. Great characters and some terrific comedy."

Q: What is Norma and Wanda about?
A: "Like most good theater it's really about relationships. You have a handful of people just going along and suddenly something happens that sends life spinning out of control. And the results are either funny or tragic.

"In this case, Daniels' assembles a group that includes two wildly different sisters, an adulterous church lady, a one-armed policeman, a hit man with an accuracy problem, and a very active corpse — to which he adds a disastrous Thanksgiving and 2,000 peanut butter balls — and out of this, you get some great adult comedy.

"Let me put it this way. Despite the references to a manger and Bing Crosby, nobody is going to confuse this with The Bells of St. Mary's. If you are looking for an antidote to typically sentimental holiday fare — this is it."

 Norma & Wanda Cast

Character Performer Norma Jennifer Thomas Wanda Maryjo Bell Mary Sue Terri Preiss Paulie Kevin Whitehead

Editor's note: This was compiled from information provided by Hartland Players and Lisa Fuente-Purdy.