Kelli Hobson (left) and Emma Sala (right) are the titular cactus rustlers.
I held a staged reading of my new comedy, THE CACTUS RUSTLERS, at Showtimers in Roanoke, Virginia on January 14, 2017.
Here’s some of the feedback I got:
“This thing is a hoot!”
— Brian L.
“This play was great fun! It reminded me of the wonderful Greater Tuna plays about West Texas, only with more actors. We definitely left smiling.”
— Diana C.
“Hilarious story.”
— Rebecca G.
THE CACTUS RUSTLERS
Two young women are bored with their lives and wish they were living in the Old West. They read a newspaper story about how there’s a lucrative black market for cacti, and so set off to become cactus rustlers. Adventure ensues, which includes a space alien. Cast: 12 – 7 female, 5 male.
Here’s what it looked like:
Stephen Baltz shows off his costume. He played Zeke, who is obsessed about winning the town’s contest for Christmas lights — even though it’s not Christmas yet.
Director Linsee Lewis hands out props. That’s Joel Gruver getting his.
Director Linsee Lewis at the helm.
The opening scene: Cee Cee (Emma Sala) and Dee Dee (Kelli Hobson) are waitresses who are bored with their lives. Naturally, they decide to become cactus rustlers.
Rhonda (Callie Almond, at right) is trying to organize an alien festival to compete with Roswell. Her flirtatious sister, Fonda (Kelly Anglim, at left) has come to town to help.
The alien hunter 51Hunter (Joel Gruver) visits a local store for supplies. It’s run by a survivalist, Commando Joe (Brian Lee), who has turned his three daughters into the local militia.
Here’s the militia. From left: Faith Lewis as Pow, Vanessa Mills filling in for Skylar Gay who played Mia, Bella Lerch as Kia, Brian Lee as Commando Joe.
Faith Lewis as Pow.
Aisha Mitchell read stage directions.
In a real production, Cee Cee and Dee Dee would be dealing with a cactus here.
Stephen Glassbrenner was the alien who spoke only an alien language that he had to improvise.
51Hunter (Joel Gruver) and Zeke (Stephen Baltz) admire the Christmas lights.
The militia confronts the potential alien hunters. From left, Skylar Gay as Mia, Bella Lerch as Kia, Brian Lee as Commando Joe, Faith Lewis as Pow, Joel Gruver as 51Hunter and Stephen Baltz as Zeke.
A nice close-up of the militia. Skylar Gay, Bella Lerch and Faith Lewis.
The alien, Dee Dee and Cee Cee catch a ride with a trucker, played by Nick McCord.
Is that an alien ship overhead? Or just a Christmas decoration?
In a real production, the alien would be hugging the cactus. Here, he’s about to be beamed up to his waiting spaceship, to the amazement of Fonda.
Sigh. Nothing ever works out as planned. Dee Dee (Kelli Hobson) and Cee Cee (Emma Sala) contemplate what went wrong.
The grand finale with Long Haul Larry.
Here’s a full photo gallery.
dwayneyancey 