published: Sunday, February 24, 2013

Who knew bingo was the game of life?

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Members of the Tanglewood Actors Guild bring "The Queen of Bingo" to Highlands County March 6, 7 and 8.

The play is a two-act straight up comedy; the lines laugh-out-loud funny. While an affectionate send up of bingo, the focus is on two hilarious women.

There's not much of a plot, but the audience gets to know two wonderful characters during a bingo session at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

The two middle-aged sisters -- bingo fanatics -- have arrived late. Instead of sitting in their usual chairs, they're out in a spill-over hallway where they can't even see the bingo board.

Sis, the elder sister -- played by Marcie Taylor -- is the calmer of the two, taking life as it comes.

Babe -- played by Susanne Schiffarth -- is the opposite. Loud, boistrous, sometimes crude, the younger sister is also vigorous and brimming with the love of being alive.

While Sis complains of never winning, Babe always believes she'll win the next pot.

Schiffarth, who directed the production, had to step into Babe's role at the last minute.

"(The play) is about winning and losing," she said. "If you consider yourself a winner, you'll be a winner."

Babe, especially, gains insight in the course of the evening. She does this at the same time as she haranges other bingo players, comments on life, and spars with her sister.

Brian Leavy plays Father Mac and Steve Waitkus is the bingo caller.

Tickets are $10. The price includes a desert, served during intermission. Tickets are available from 3-4 p.m. Thursday at the Tanglewood Clubhouse, or at the door before a performance.

The doors open at 6 p.m.; the curtain rises at 7.

The 50/50 raffle each show night is a a fundraiser for the Tanglewood Cancer Residents' Benefit.

For more details go to diannelane@embarqmail.com or call Dianne Lane at 471-1946.