Stray Kats Theatre Company To Present 'Fibber McGee And Molly'
Stray Kats Theatre Company To Present âFibber McGee And Mollyâ
The Stray Kats Theatre Company, a notÂfor-profit, professional theater company, will present as its fifth offering in its inaugural season Don Quinn and Phil Leslieâs Fibber McGee and Molly. A staged reading will be offered beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday, April 8, in The Alexandria Room of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street in Newtown.
Tops for popularity among all US weekday radio entertainers just behind Sunday top-liners Jack Benny and Edgar Bergen was an old time, tank-town vaudeville couple from Peoria, Jim and Marion Jordan, better known by their radio aliases, Fibber McGee and Molly of 79 Wistful Vista.
To some 20 million regular listeners, Fibberâs garrulous tales, the dry comeuppances Molly metes out to him, and the dated antics of his numerous stooges, are as familiar as a favorite chair. Fibber is an incorrigible blowhard, but heâll try his luck at anything, from barbering to running an army.
âThe Fibber McGee and Molly Programâ debuted on April 16, 1935, from NBCâs Studio 8-H in New York. From the very beginning Don Quinn was hired to write the series, but the Johnson Wax Company insisted on having total control over both the programâs story line and the commercials. Since the companyâs primary products at the time were auto polish products, the ongoing story line featured a middle age couple touring the country in their car. After four weeks the program returned to Chicago and continued there until 1939.
Fortunately in the fall of 1935 the Johnson Wax Company decided to promote its new line of floor wax products. On August 26, 1935 the McGees purchased a home in Wistful Vista thus setting the stage for the format that would characterize the program for the next 20 years.
The McGee home and the constant flow of neighbors, friends and relatives became the focal point of the program.
Directed by Kate Katcher, the Stray Kats cast will feature Tom Zingarelli as Fibber and Nadine Willig as Molly, both appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association.
The evening will include coffee and dessert by Andreaâs Pastry Shop of Newtown.
Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 203-514-2221 or at StrayKatsTheatreCompany.org.
For further information, contact Kate Katcher at 203-514-2221 or info@StrayKatsTheatreCompany.org.