‘The Kitchen Witches’
Georgia Mountain Players production
When: 7:30 p.m. April 12-13 and April 19-20; 2:30 p.m. April 15 and 21
Where: Georgia Mountains Center, 301 Main St. SW, Gainesville
How much: $17 for adults and $13 for students, children and seniors ages 60 and over
Contact: 770-534-8420, www.georgiamountainplayers.org
If Martha Stewart ever decided to give up crafty, household projects for a walk on the wild side with the Jerry Springer crowd, the end result likely would be “The Kitchen Witches.”
The comedy is the centerpiece of the latest production of the same name by the Georgia Mountain Players.
“To me, this is one of the funniest plays we’ve done,” said Mike Martin, the group’s managing artistic director.
“I’m directing it and have been to every rehearsal and I’m still laughing at it. Even the cast has to fight back their laughter.”
The play opens at the Mountains Center today at 7:30 p.m. There will also be evening performances on Friday, Saturday and April 19-20. The players will put on matinee performances at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and April 21.
Without giving too much away, the “Witches” are Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle. They’ve been feuding for the last 40 years, from the playground to their respective cooking shows.
“Both of their shows end up getting canceled,” Martin said.
“On the last day of Dolly’s show, Isobel shows up at the studio and they get into a big fight. The viewers love it so much that they end up getting a show together.”
Although it’s supposed to be a cooking show, the only thing they’re cooking up is saucy retorts to one another.
“All they do is fight,” Martin said. “The situations they get in are just absolutely hysterical.”
Although the play, which was written by Caroline Smith, was originally set in Canada, she gave theater groups creative license to change a few things. Now instead of Canadian landmarks and names, audiences will recognize people and places in and around Gainesville.
The show runs just under two hours, including an intermission. Although there are pranks and spats galore, the production is family-friendly, as are all the Georgia Mountain Players’ shows.
“We don’t do anything that isn’t,” Martin said.
Tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for children, students and seniors over 60. They are on sale at the Georgia Mountains Center Box Office, 301 Main St. SW in Gainesville. They can also be ordered over the phone and online, but additional charges may apply.