‘If the Shoe Fits’ opens in Thibodaux

Gumbo Writer

Bert Boquet is a semi-retired hypnotherapist living in Thibodaux who has directed over 20 plays throughout his theatre career.

The therapist/director, however, is promising that he won’t be making anybody drowsy with the newest production he’s helming for the Thibodaux Playhouse, “If the Shoe Fits.”

“It’s a comedy wrapped around a wacky story,” he said. “An unhappy wife named Delores plots to kill her husband, Marvin, with poisoned wine so that she can be together with shoe-salesman George.”

“It’s a humorous rascal with lots of twists and turns,” he said. “It has a fair amount of slapstick, and all the elements of a good comedy.”

“You’re not sure who will get the poisoned wine as the play progresses,” Boquet said. “There’s a question as to whether they’ll kill Marvin or themselves.”

“If the Shoe Fits,” which was first produced in Florida in 2004, was written as a collaboration between three authors. It will run at the Thibodaux Playhouse (314 St. Mary St. in the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in downtown Thibodaux) beginning Friday, April 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, and 29.

All performances start at 7:30 p.m., except for the 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Tickets are $10 a person at the door.

The play has a cast of “well-experienced actors,” Boquet said. “All have done five or six shows each with various theatres, not only with Thibodaux Playhouse.”

Scott Phipps plays the husband targeted for an early demise. Lana Lawrence portrays the two-timing Delores, with Earl LeBlanc as her paramour. Merlyn Foret fills the part of Esperanza, Delores and George’s Spanish-speaking maid.

“This play will fit our audience nicely,” Boquet said. “All winds up good in the final analysis,” despite Delores and George’s machinations, he said.

“Shoe” will be the Thibodaux Playhouse’s second-to-last production of the 2006-2007 season.

“For a season, (the playhouse’s board) usually selects two comedies, a musical, and a heavy — a mystery,” he said.

The theatre’s final production will be the musical, “Lucky Stiff.” Auditions will be held Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at 1120 Caroline St. in Thibodaux to fill six male and four female roles.

Those auditioning “should come prepared to sing a song and should bring either back-up music or the score for the pianist to use,” according to a press release.

Call Angela Hammerli at (985) 446-8150 for more information.