Caledonia Woman Wins Playwriting Competition

They threw fruit, kissed a salmon, danced like ballerinas and picked Mary Tompsett to be the winner of the Snowdance Festival.

This year, more than 200 entries were submitted for the Over Our Head Player’s playwriting competition. Ten of those plays were performed at the Sixth Street Theatre in Racine. But Mary Tompsett, of Caledonia, earned first place with her 10-minute play “Granny and the Little Man” at the closing ceremony Sunday afternoon.

After writing her column, “Posing as Normal,” and publishing an e-book called “Whinny From the Heart,” Tompsett took a chance at this year’s competition with her two-person play, “Granny and the Little Man.”

In Tompsett’s play, Granny, played by Barb Tylla, answers questions from a telephone surveyor, played by Matt Rangel, about prophylactics. But Granny thinks she’s answering questions about an entirely different product.

“I was really surprised,” Tompsett said about her win. “Matt and Barbara did a fantastic job.”

Rangel and Tylla also had positive things to say about the play.

“Being in the play was awesome, I pretty much had to sit there and react to a lady telling jokes about condoms,” Rangel said.

“It was a lot of fun, Mary is the most wonderful writer,” Tylla said.

Michael Becker, of Caledonia, directed the show. He said the show sold more tickets this year than in previous years.

“I think it’s just catching on,” Becker said. “People are getting excited and the plays are just fantastic.”

Also placing in the competition were:

"Sticky Buns," by David Field, Palisades, California. Actor Rich Smith, portrayed a businessman and Melissa Hughes Ernest, played a bag lady.

"Jock Itch," by George Sauer, Dedham Massachusetts. Actor Ron Schulz portrayed Man A and Rich Smith portrayed Man B.