MANSFIELD – Twenty characters. Two actors. One stage.
This is the challenge for Doug Wertz and Ryan Kiley, both familiar faces at the Mansfield Playhouse, and their upcoming show “Greater Tuna” on the Playhouse’s Second Stage. The satirical comedy introduces audiences to a host of characters hailing from Tuna, Texas.
In the span of a few hours, both Wertz and Kiley will transform themselves into redneck radio hosts, curmudgeonly old women, toddlers, and even animals. And the changes sometimes happen at breakneck speed – one sequence has Kiley changing into three different characters in less than a minute.
“You have to come up with different mannerisms, voices, the way you stand, and you have to change just like that,” Kiley said.
“There are times I go off stage as one character carrying that same voice while changing into another character, which makes it a little confusing sometimes,” Wertz added. “And I make one ugly woman.”
“Greater Tuna” is one of four scripts in the “Tuna” series, which also includes “A Tuna Christmas,” “Red White and Tuna,” and “Tuna Does Vegas.” Kiley and Wertz have performed each of the “Tuna” shows together – in fact, the first time they met was on the set of “Tuna” show in 1999.
Even after many years of performances together, the two actors still find the humor in the shows and each other – they have yet to make it through an entire rehearsal with a straight face.
“This ‘Tuna’ series is the closest to my heart of any show I’ve ever done, just because of the chemistry I have with this man, and because it’s so well-written and so much fun to play,” Kiley said.
The last “Tuna” show done at the Mansfield Playhouse was in January 2016, with “A Tuna Christmas.” Both Wertz and Kiley assumed it would be their last “Tuna” together, until a last-minute opening came about on the Second Stage venue.
“We had a challenge of maintaining a cast for the other show,” Wertz explained. “When casting shows, even the Renaissance has the same issue – unless you use the same people over and over again, which people get tired of seeing, it’s hard to get new people and new blood in.”
When the original show was cancelled, Wertz and Kiley stepped up to do another “Tuna” in order to help bring revenue back to the Playhouse.
“On the low budget we have, our expenses don’t reduce so we still need revenue,” Wertz said. “We were trying to figure out what to do to replace this show, and my wife Tammy suggested doing ‘Tuna’ again.”
One text message to Kiley later, and the show was on.
Throwing together a last-minute “Tuna” has been a challenge, with a limited time frame to learn lines, gather costumes and built sets. Then there’s the added challenge of performing “Tuna” on Second Stage, a first for Wertz and Kiley.
“We’re in such a confined space down in Second Stage, so it’s a challenge,” Wertz said.
“You also have to be mindful of the noise because you’re in closer proximity to the audience,” Kiley added.
Rehearsals for “Tuna” began on Jan. 29. The show officially opens on Feb 9, with additional performances on Feb. 10, 15, 16 and 17. For tickets, visit www.mansfieldplayhouse.com, or call the box office at 419-522-2883 Wednesdays through Fridays between 1 and 6 p.m.
Despite being written in 1982, the humor in “Greater Tuna” is absolutely relatable in today’s world.
“It’s a great thing to witness as an audience member because of the challenge of the multitude of characters and such quick changes,” Wertz said. “You want to just have a good time and be mindless about things and laugh at two idiots making fun of the world.”
