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Laugh your sandals off with ‘Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses’

Courtesy Photo by Bronwyn Woolman Alpena Civic Theatre presents “Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses,” opening tonight at 7:30 p.m. and running for two weekends. The gut-busting comedy for all ages features the above cast, back row, from left: Matt Southwell, Julie Meyers, and Zach Clements. In front, from left, are Diane Lozen, Tracie Papin (lying down), Curt Hampton, and Mia Hauff.

ALPENA ­­– Pack the tissues and possibly an adult diaper, because this play is gut-busting hilarious.

“Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses” opens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Alpena Civic Theatre.

It’s the first live play in Alpena since the world shut down in March 2020. They were actually rehearsing at that time to do this play in spring 2020, but that didn’t happen.

Well, they got back to it, and this talented, experienced cast is ready to see how loud you can laugh.

The comedy features Matt Southwell as Uncle Bubba, Julie Meyers as Beatrice Rutherford Smythe, Zach Clements as Douglas Dupont, Diane Lozen as Audrina Brown, Tracie Papin as Candy, Curt Hampton as Peter Mudd, and Mia Hauff as Traci Rutherford Smythe.

If you think the shenanigans are funny to begin with, wait until you see the likes of the very talented and highly sought-after Madame Coco. If she doesn’t crack you up, you must have fallen asleep somehow, which would be near impossible during this fast-paced, laugh-a-minute production.

Written by Michael Parker and Susan Parker, the play takes place at a mystical beach resort where love is in the air. A couple is planning to marry, but the future mother-in-law is not exactly enamored with her daughter’s choice of mate. Many a mishap and several shenanigans occur one after another to make this a nonstop, energetic ride through a crazy tunnel of love, lust, mystery and mistrust.

There are some sexual innuendos, but most of them would likely go over a child’s head, so this play is recommended for all ages. There is no cursing.

Director Scott Edgar and Assistant Director Ted Rockwell could not say enough about the cast.

Edgar said “lots of laughs” are in store for audiences.

“It’s just one laugh after another, because everything just breaks loose,” Edgar said. “It’s just nonstop chaos, because rooms get switched up, people don’t realize there have been mistakes made.”

“This cast has been working on this for the past two years,” Edgar added.

“This cast is great,” Rockwell said.

Edgar and Rockwell agreed that it feels “awesome” to be able to open back up to the public.

While they were shut down, the Alpena Civic Theatre had a new air filtration system installed, and returning patrons will notice the difference. The basement does not have any hint of musty smell, and no dust can be seen dancing in the spotlights in the theater itself. You can definitely tell the air is cleaner, and this system is used in hospitals to remove viruses, including the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

“We are so looking forward to having people finally get out and enjoy themselves,” Edgar said. “This COVID thing has been a nightmare for everybody. So getting people out and letting them laugh and have a good time and forget about that for the time being — my job as a director is to transport people to a different time, a different place.”

He said everyone could probably use a vacation, and why leave town when you can just head to the beach for “Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses”?

This show runs at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, and again the following week at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Oct. 3.

Call the box office at 989-354-3624 to make reservations.

Tickets are $15 per adult and $8 per student.

ACT is located at 401 River St., Alpena.

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