Features

Countrified Comedy: Amish Country Theater brings a healthy dose of laughter to the heart of Holmes County

By Denice Rovira Hazlett
May 30, 2012
1114

Its not unusual to find farms dotted throughout Ohios Amish Country, with their breathtaking scenes of rolling hillsides, neatly-plowed fields, and bright red barns. What is out of the ordinary, however, is for folks to file through the barns big double doors, settle into theater seats, and take in a two hour variety show, complete with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, a professional house band, witty comedians, and family-friendly stage actors. But thats just what visitors got on opening night at the Amish Country Theater in the former Walnut Creek Flea Market on Thursday, May 24. Folks from as far away as California and Wisconsin warmed up to tunes by Coshoctons Salt Creek, Inc. bluegrass band and were treated to a comedic cast of characters, including: host Maureen Thomas of Canton; New Philadelphias Elizabeth Lawson as Lizzie Mae, the misleading magician; and--the crowd favorite--quick-witted, buck-toothed bumpkin, Lynyrd, played by Sugarcreeks John Bunn. He also wrote the show with help from his buddies who cooked up the best gags while brainstorming over buffalo wings at Hog Heaven. The Amish duo, for instance. We were sitting at the table and someone said, What if some Amish guys came out and cracked jokes? So I started writing stuff down, researched what would be funny, and ran it by some Amish people to make sure it wasnt offensive. They gave it their approval and that, Bunn said, is how the simply silly Amish comedy combo, Jonas Reuben and Jonas Yoder, aka the Jonas Brothers (played by Berlins Braden Conn and Shane Byler), was born. Jeff Conn of Berlin is co-owner of the theater. He said the idea came about when he and his father and business partner, Mike Conn, saw similar venues during their 2011 visit to Gatlinburg, Tenn. Weve been wanting to do something like this for awhile, Conn said. We thought this would be a great addition to Amish Country. The biggest challenge, Conn said, was the construction of the barn and barnyard. The 12,000-square-foot space, including the 9,000-square-foot theater with 325 comfy movie-theater seats, took about six months to build, from design to completion. Randy Hisey, a friend from Columbus, sketched a drawing of a barn, and we took that to P&L Builders of Charm. The Amish craftsmen took two months to construct an authentic Amish-style barn, using old wood from a barn in Fredericksburg. We wanted it to feel like youre going into an authentic barn to see a great show, Conn said. Were excited about how it turned out. One of the unique features of the show itself is the focus on audience participation. Those watching are singled out to interact with performers both on-stage and off. Troy Butcher, an actor from Orange County, Calif., came to Ohio to experience Cedar Point and explore Amish Country. He decided to see the show after finding it via Google. Butcher, wearing an Amish Country Theater T-shirt he bought in the theaters souvenir shop, said he had no idea what to expect, but when he saw the opportunity to jump on stage as an audience participant, he grabbed it with both fists. I do theater, Butcher said, some film here and there and some stage work, so when they called for volunteers, I had to do it. As for the rest of the experience? Im enjoying it, Butcher said. The show is funny, and Im glad I came. Mark Behringer, of Appleton, Wis., also made his way to the stage. His wife, Sandy Behringer, called the show fantabulous. You guys have to keep this going, she said. It was wonderful to see all these people in one room, laughing. Diane Cavender, tour director for Lamers Tour and Travel based in Wisconsin, was thrilled to be a part of opening night. Its going to be easy to sell this, Cavender said. I loved the music, the comedy, the whole package. It was a good mix. Troy Schlabach lives in the Doughty Valley and is a step-on guide for the tour company. Im looking forward to seeing this grow, because its something totally different, Schlabach said. I dont think tour groups expect something like this here. Im laughing at Lynyrd, thats for sure. John Bunn is thrilled that people are enjoying his character. When we write this stuff, we hope its funny, Bunn said. We laugh and chuckle, and we run it by friends, but until you get a roomful of people, you really dont know how funny it will be. But during Thursdays show, it was clear the show was successful. A quick look around found people doubled over with laughter. It was entertaining all the way through, said Kenn Holmes of New Philadelphia. I had tears in my eyes, I was laughing so much. Carol Glessner has been offering bus tours with Country Coach Adventures in Beach City for 20 years. She said her group from Wisconsin was having a ball. I was expecting an eight. This is a 20, Glessner said. Weve needed something like this for years, and this is phenomenal. Its not a home-run, Glessner said. Its a grand slam.

Countrified Comedy: Amish Country Theater brings a healthy dose of laughter to the heart of Holmes County

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