Chaos rules as relatives grieve in comedy 'Dearly Departed'

Pa's wife reads a letter from his sister, Marguerite, telling him that one day she will convert him to be as religious as she is and will have him saved.

After reading the letter, his wife looks up and asks, "What do you think of that, Bud?"

He topples over dead onto the floor.

That's the start of "Dearly Departed," which opens Friday night at the PM&L Theatre in Antioch.

"Dearly Departed" opens Friday and runs through Feb. 24. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays at the theater, 877 Main St.

"Dearly Departed" takes place in the backwoods of the Bible Belt, where the dysfunctional Turpin family gathers to bury Pa Turpin.

Ken Scheske, who plays Pa, said falling onto the floor is an improvement from his last role with the PM&L Theatre as a nasty drunk in "ER."

"For me, it's nice. I can fall off the chair and come out for applause in the end," Scheske said.

The widow joins her children and neighbors to plan the funeral, which results in a series of chaotic mishaps.

Among the family is Pa's older son, Ray Bud, a blue-collar mechanic who always looks at the dollar signs. The only child to hold a steady job, he feels the financial burden as the family plans to bury Pa.

His brother, Junior, blew the family's fortune on what the family calls a pipe dream -- he bought a machine that cleans parking lots.

Bob Wang said he decided to take a step away from performing in musicals as he usually does to play Ray Bud. As pastor at United Church of Christ in Somers, Wis., the story intrigued him.

Wang said he tells people at church if you see people during time of grief, you would not consider it a funny topic. But it brings out the best and the worst of people. This story, without being disrespectful, takes a look at how death brings a family together.

"It shows the subtle things we bring out and what we do when we celebrate someone's life and when families come together," he said.

Playing Ray's wife, Lucille, is Janaan Rose, who tries to do everything right. Sometimes that means trying to diffuse chaos such as when Suzanne, Junior's wife, discovers the woman her husband had an affair with.

"She is always asking me for help," said Rose, who lives in McHenry.

But then there are other family members who do not show sympathy as Suzanne breaks down on the floor.

"Marguerite says just get back up or your dress is going to get dirty," Rose said.

Adding to the humor -- and chaos -- are characters like Juanita, played by Margie Burba of Beach Park.

Juanita is married to Bud's nephew, who is a successful lawyer. While she is unhappy in her marriage, Burba said Juanita uses one bright spot in her past to compete against Suzanne.

"Juanita likes to remind Suzanne that she was the former yam queen. Suzanne is like, 'whatever,' " Burba said.

In the end, Ray brings the family together to say goodbye to Pa.

"When things fall apart, I, with a temper, get back a sense of order," Wang said.

Despite the dysfunction, they hold themselves together. In the end, the Turpin family shows that blood is thicker than water.

"Despite all the attitudes, it is apparent they care about each other," Rose said.

Tickets cost $12 for the general public and $10 for students and seniors. To reserve tickets, call the PM&L box office at (847) 395-3055.