GEP presents: ‘A Don’t Hug Me County Fair’

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Brian Korthals/Daily Globe Green Earth Players cast members (from left) Terri Ebert, Bruce Baartman, Casey McKenzie, Shane Amborn and Heidi Sandbulte star in the fall comedy production of “A Don’t Hug Me County Fair” in Luverne.

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LUVERNE — Six years is a long time to wait for Luverne’s Green Earth Players to present the sequel to the popular “Don’t Hug Me” production, but returning director Shawn Kinsinger assures that Part II — “A Don’t Hug Me County Fair” — is going to be well worth it.

During a Wednesday night dress rehearsal at the Green Earth Players (GEP) hangout in Luverne, the cast of returning characters spouted off line after line of laugh-out-loud comedy, complete with “Up Nort” accents, backwoods humor and quirky music.

Set in the fictitious Bunyan County, the play revolves around the same five characters as “Don’t Hug Me,” with one new addition — Trigger Johnson, twin sister to Gunner Johnson — with both characters portrayed by Bruce Baartman.

“He gets to put on a dress, and that right there is really funny,” said Kinsinger, who’s had a hard time keeping a straight face during three-night-per-week rehearsals at the GEP building.

“A Don’t Hug Me County Fair” takes place during the hottest part of the summer, when Minnesota’s mosquito population is at its peak.

Bernice Lundstrom (played by Heidi Sandbulte) returns to Bunyan County to try out for the Miss Walleye Queen beauty pageant, putting a spark back in her former beau, Kanute Gunderson. Gunderson is portrayed by Shane Amborn, who co-directed the GEP’s “Don’t Hug Me” production.

As Kanute and Gunner plot their lucky fishing spot to reel in lunkers for the Bunyan County Fishing Contest, Bernice and Clara Johnson (played by Terri Ebert) make plans for their competition in the beauty pageant. Meanwhile, Aarvid Gisselsen (played by Casey McKenzie) makes a return to throw a wrench in everything.

“There are relationships issues and friends butting heads in the contest — everybody’s competing with everybody else,” Kinsinger explained.

He said attendees should be prepared for a great comedy.

“I just like how funny it is. I enjoy a good comedy and this is definitely a good comedy,” he added.

The role of Gunderson is the only cast change in the sequel, and it took little to no convincing to bring them all back to the stage again.

“They were all on board before they asked me to direct again,” said Kinsinger. “We had so much fun the last time around, I think everyone was excited to do it.”

Rehearsals began in mid-September, and Kinsinger said they are ready for opening night. Performances are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11-12 and Nov. 18-19, with 2 p.m. matinees to be presented Nov. 13 and Nov. 20.

Tickets go on sale today for “A Don’t Hug Me County Fair,” and are available for purchase at the Carnegie Cultural Center in Luverne or by calling (507) 283-8294.

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