A constantly losing entrepreneur, a liberated actress and a priest walk into their parents’ home. That’s not the setup for a joke, it’s the recipe for a delightful look at family life as empty-nesters celebrate the holidays through the decades with their grown children.

Audience members can expect a lot of nostalgia and humor when they attend the latest Great Bend Community Theatre production, “Making God Laugh.” Co-director Karen Kline-Martin says, “This is a comedy with a point.”

The play follows one typical American family over the course of  30 years’ worth of holidays, starting in 1980.

In four scenes spaced 10 years apart, we see matriarch Ruthie, salt-of-the-earth dad Bill, eldest son Richard, middle child Maddie and golden child Thomas live out the changes in their lives within the memories of their past.

Playwright Sean Brennan has provided a wonderful blend of quirkiness and honesty that is both hilarious and heartwarming.

The very resilient cast has prevailed through several membership changes, including one former castmate who took much too literally the show biz good luck wish of “break a leg,” according to the directors, Kline-Martin and Angela Meitner. 

“A lot of things had to be changed on the spur of the moment,” Kline-Martin said. “This play was to have been done two years ago and we had to shut everything down for COVID-19. Ashley Wood was then the assistant director. We went through two actresses that played the Maddie part; Ashley recently stepped into the role of Maddie a week and a half ago.”

“I wanted to earn my wings,” said Wood, who is again serving as assistant director. With that experience behind her, she will be ready to direct her first play.

The play is inspired by the Woody Allen joke: “If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans." This production promises to have audiences laughing along with Him at the struggles and triumphs of this family adventure.

“This play touches on family issues that we may want to ignore, in a comfortable and authentic way,” Wood said.

As the family matriarch, Ruthie has a lot to say about the plan God has for her children, cast member Madison Hembree said. But the audience will see what actually happens as the family evolves over time. “Ultimately it’s a beautiful thing because we all realize that family is family.”

Matt Mazouch, Karen Gore and the Barton Community College stagecraft class designed and built the set. Underwriters for the show include Barton Community College and  Innovative Livestock Inc.

For any questions, contact Great Bend Community Theatre by calling 620-792-4228 or send email to gbct.crest@gmail.com.