Garnett’s Chamber Players serving entertainment with ‘Trouble with Cats’

Dinner and a show will be available at one stop in Garnett the next two weekends.

The Chamber Players Community Theatre will serve up “The Trouble With Cats,” written and directed by Garnett playwright Gary Ray Stapp.

“I call the script a comedy, but it’s developing into a borderline farce,” Stapp said. “There are a number of ‘nutty’ characters, lots of witty one-liners and a couple of physical comedic situations. All sure to fill the theater with lots of laughter and smiles.”

The play, which is Stapp’s fifth full-length play to be debuted by the Chamber Players Community Theatre, revolves around two house-sitting couples — the upper middle-class and socially skilled Julians from New Jersey and the anti-materialist and free-spirited vegans from North Carolina who have decided they don’t even need a last name — who are booked for the same house.

The cast of 12 includes Chamber Player Community Theatre veterans, Ken Amaya, Sarah Edgerton, Tom Emerson, Jackie Fursman, Karen Katzer, Vicki Markham, Alvin Peters, Gary Rommelfanger, Allison Russell and Denise Scheibmeir. Melinda Holloran and Preston Peine will make their debuts with the Chamber Players.

“I’ve got a wonderfully talented cast with each actor having a terrific sense of humor. At each practice, there is someone bringing something new and funny to their character. I think once opening night gets here, the show will be a riot,” Stapp said.

Stapp calls the opening night performance “Garnett’s theatre gala of the year.” It will be 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Thelma Moore Community Playhouse, 140 W. Fifth Ave., Garnett.

Guests are invited to dress up for a red carpet evening that will include a prime-rib meal complete with a bottle of sparkling grape juice at each table, plus a complimentary souvenir wine glass and a cast-autographed program for each guest.

 The opening night event is the group’s fund-raiser for the Chamber Player Community Theatre Children’s Theatre Camp, and all proceeds and donations are for next summer’s theater camp program.

Other evening performances are 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 26-29. Matinees are set for 12:30 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 30.

All tickets are for dinner and theater. Reservations are required. Box office hours are 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (785) 304-1683.