Players continue season with "Peach Pie Reunion"
KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 weeks AGO
Krysty Whisman, Kyle Stinger, Caroline McDonald (center), Anna Loehrke and Neal Lewing rejoice over their cumbersome reunion, wondering how to address the aftermath of their bowling pal’s mid-life crisis, in the Port Polson Players' latest production, "Peach Pie Reunion." (Karen Lewing photo)
Kristi Niemeyer learned her newspaper licks at weekly newspapers, beginning at the Mission Valley News in 1981, then at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Lake County Leader until 1993. She launched and co-published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly, before returning to the Leader in 2022, and serving as its editor until July 2026. Reach her at [email protected] | July 23, 2026 12:00 AM
Laughter and love lace “Peach Pie Reunion,” an original lyrical comedy with music, staged through July 26 at the Theatre on the Lake by the Port Polson Players.
Caroline McDonald plays Frances Babcock, alarmed after her death notice is mistakenly published in the local newspaper. She decides to see what people thought of her by sending her husband, Wendell, to the funeral, bearing ashes from their barbecue.
Her husband’s Karaoke-singing second cousin and his wife provide the music and, after the funeral, return home to comfort the grieving husband in his backyard. To everyone's surprise, LaVeda — a widow on Frances' bowling team — shows up in full makeup to wish Wendell well (and make moves on him) as the Karaoke cousin and wife reenact their musical tributes.
As Francis spies on the reunion, the comedy ramps up with complications neither she nor her husband anticipated, which include "how to bring her back to life."
Anna Loehrke plays the scheming widow, LaVeda, and directs the play. The daughter of Players co-producers Neal and Karen Lewing, Loehrke also directed the first two plays of the season, “The Schoolhouse Blizzard” and “The Woman in Black.”
The "Peach Pie Reunion" was produced once before and was popular, said Karen, "but I'm looking forward to the twist Anna brings to the table."
According to her mother, Loehrke will head back to her home in Cleveland as soon as the final curtain falls to organize and direct The Near West Theatre’s annual fundraiser, Halloween Haunt, which occupies several city blocks and tells the story of downtown Cleveland.
“Peach Pie Reunion,” produced in association with Mission Valley Friends of the Arts, comes to the theatre’s air-conditioned stage at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through July 26. Reservations are available at 406-883-9212 or online at portpolsonplayers.com.
Next up, the Players honor America’s 250th anniversary with a series of Sunday Musical Matinees in August. Concerts include: “America on the Move,” Aug.2; The Montana ShamRockers, Aug. 9; tunes from the Great American Songbook, Aug. 16; and Red Butte Wranglers, Aug. 23
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