Farce of Nature
by Lee County Arts Center
Apr. 25 - May. 07
The non-stop hilarity of this Southern-fried farce highlights one day in the life of the Wilburn family of Mayhew, Arkansas. Meet D. Gene Wilburn, the owner and proprietor of the Reel 'Em Inn, the finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks. Well, it used to be, but lately business is down, tourists are few, and the lone guest who's just checked in—an extremely jittery Carmine DeLuca from Chicago—is only there due to a location shift in the Witness Protection Program.
Doesn't anybody just want to fish anymore? Certainly not D. Gene's frustrated wife, Wanelle, who's fed up with their lackluster romantic life. She's taken drastic steps to improve it through hypnotic suggestion and, for the life of him, D. Gene cannot understand why his pants keep falling down. D. Gene's feisty sister Maxie has her own problems, chief among them battling ageism to resume her career in law enforcement. She's determined to prove her worth by keeping Carmine DeLuca alive through the weekend—a task that's going to prove to be much harder than she bargained for since she keeps losing both her gun and the bullets. And she never anticipated the gangster Camine's been dodging for the last five years, Sonny Barbosa, is about to walk through the door, in hot pursuit of his sexy wife, Lola. Seems the headstong Lola has driven hundreds of miles to the lodge to follow her boytoy, D. Gene and Wanelle's son Ty.
But Lola meets her match in Ty's seemingly innocent girlfriend, Jenna, whose patience has reached the breaking point after months of waiting for Ty to come home.
In the deliciously funny romp that ensues, they all hide, lie, disguise themselves, cross-dress, and slam doors chasing one another, while trying to figure out the source of an increasingly awful stench. By then it's too late and the lodge is surrounded by vicious critters and hungry varmints that have followed the odor down from the hills. Yet by the delightfully chaotic climax of this one outrageous day, love blossoms, truths are revealed, and the lives of all—family, guests and gangsters alike—change in incredible and surprising ways. This side-splittingly funny Jones Hope Wooten comedy is guaranteed to win your audiences over—hook, line, and sinker!
Audition Notice: Farce of Nature
The Lee County Arts Center is excited to announce auditions for Farce of Nature, the wildly funny Southern farce by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten.
This fast-paced comedy is full of mistaken identities, slamming doors, outrageous misunderstandings, and larger-than-life characters. The story takes place at the Reel ’Em Inn, a struggling fishing lodge in the Ozarks, where one chaotic day turns into complete mayhem.
All auditions, rehearsals, and performances will take place at the Lee County Arts Center.
Audition Information
Audition Dates/Times:
Saturday, April 25 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Thursday, May 7, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location:
Lee County Arts Center
115 W Austin St, Giddings, Texas
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. No monologue is required.
Please plan to stay for the full audition session.
Rehearsal Information
Rehearsals are expected to begin shortly after casting and will generally be held evenings at the Lee County Arts Center.
A tentative rehearsal schedule will be provided at auditions. Please come prepared to list all known conflicts through the end of the production.
Performance Information
Performance dates are:
July 10, 2026 7:00 pm curtain
July 11, 2026 7:00 pm curtain
July 12, 2026 2:30 pm curtain
July 17, 2026 7:00 pm curtain
July 18, 2026 7:00 pm curtain
Please note: There may be an opportunity to add additional performances after the initial run of the show closes. Auditioners will be asked if they are available and interested in participating should those opportunities arise.
Who Can Audition
Adults ages 18 and older are encouraged to audition. No previous acting experience is required.
This production calls for 9 actors: 5 women, 4 men
Some roles may involve physical comedy, quick costume changes, accents, and strong comedic timing.
Character Descriptions
Wanelle Wilburn, Female, 50s+
The co-owner of the Reel ’Em Inn and wife of D. Gene. Wanelle is fiery, frustrated, dramatic, and determined to put some spark back into her marriage. Strong comedic timing required.
D. Gene Wilburn, Male, 50s+
The well-meaning but overwhelmed owner of the fishing lodge. He is trying desperately to hold everything together while chaos swirls around him. Lovable, clueless, and very funny.
Maxie Wilburn Suggs, Female, 50s+
D. Gene’s feisty sister. A former law enforcement officer trying to prove she still has what it takes. Tough, opinionated, slightly eccentric, and always ready for action.
Jenna Sealy, Female, 20s–30s
Ty’s sweet and seemingly innocent girlfriend. Underneath her calm exterior is a woman who has finally reached her limit. Must be able to handle both sincerity and comedy.
Ty Wilburn, Male, 20s–30s
The Wilburns’ charming but irresponsible son. A would-be actor and ladies’ man whose choices have created much of the show’s chaos.
Carmine DeLuca, Male, 30s–50s
A jittery Chicago mobster hiding out in witness protection at the lodge. Nervous, suspicious, and hilariously out of place in the Ozarks.
Lola Barbosa, Female, 30s–50s
A glamorous, dramatic, and larger-than-life woman from Chicago. She is passionate, bold, and not afraid to chase after what—or who—she wants.
Sonny Barbosa, Male, 40s–60s
Lola’s dangerous and intimidating husband. A mobster with a short temper, though still very funny in true farce fashion.
Roxanne Thorne, Female, 30s–50s
An attractive, mysterious woman with secrets of her own. She appears polished and sophisticated, but there is more to her than meets the eye.
Additional Information
· Please arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete an audition form.
· Headshots and resumes are welcome but not required.
· Script notes will be available to review at auditions.
· All roles are open.
· Casting may be flexible depending on audition turnout.
· Those cast should be prepared for an energetic rehearsal process and a fun, fast-moving production.
Questions may be directed to: admin@leecountyartscenter.org
We hope you will join us for this hilarious and high-energy production!
