'Greater Tuna' Will Ring Familiar Here
By Wendy Butler - The Humboldt Beacon    

     Patrick Spike and Connie J. Sander are true quick-change artists.  Without missing a cue, the two leap in and out of 22 characters, including the voice of the inimitable "Yippi," a sort of frantic, Chihuahua-like mutt.
     "Greater Tuna," playing at the Ferndale Repertory Theatre through May 29, is a frantic piece.  Spike settles in as director and one-half of the cast with no problem at all.  In fact, the naturalness with which Spike and Sander approach the never-dull, occasionally tunnel-visioned population of Tuna, Texas is so comfortable to watch that you'd think you were in, say, Fortuna or any one of the many small communities scattered throughout Humboldt County.
     Small-town life exaggerated is what Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard have created in "Greater Tuna," which has not only packed houses in San Francisco, but has wound up on many high school dramatic interpretation lists for weekly National Forensic League tournaments.
     Only, I don't think big city folks can understand the play the way Humboldt folks can.
     Tuna, Texas is a town full of preachers, poachers, murderers, gossips, bratty kids, batty adults - in short, a typical town in Anywhere, U.S.A.   But, what's endearing about it is that everyone knows everyone and no matter how far a members strays or how bizarre the behavior, all acts are met with resigned nods - the kind that let you know you belong here.
     Every morning Thurston Wheelis (Spike) and Arlis Struvie (Sander) wake up Tuna through a mysterious, ancient hi-fi radio and set up the topics of conversation for the day - that is, when the two loveable bumblers can remember to turn the station's power on.  Radio Station OKKK gives way to a hilarious parade of caricatures like "puppy pusher" Petey Fisk, gloriously ignorant "censor the textbook committee" member Bertha Bumiller, the Smut Snatchers of the New Order, and more.  It's the extended family from Hell, and what fun they are!

Rep Review
by IMP (Ingrid Pfeiffer) - Ferndale Enterprise

     Oh, the glory of small town living.   Everybody knows everybody and listens faithfully to OKKK, the very own radio station of "Greater Tuna."
     To get acquainted with some of the citizens of that Texas town, take a trip via buying a ticket at the Ferndale Rep and visit this quaint town.   Twenty-two characters, played by two actors, will take up their residence in Ferndale through May 29th and will fill you in on the happenings of "Greater Tuna" over the course of a day.  and as some are "real characters," you'll meet lovable Petey Fisk, Spacey R.R. Snavely, Big Mama Bertha Bumiller and her adorable brood, the rootin' tootin' Rev. Spikes and oh sooo helpful Vera Carp.
     Having seen "Greater Tuna" and "A Christmas Tuna" (maybe the Rep will do the follow up?!?!) and knowing what was coming, Connie Sander and Patrick Spike still kept me in stitches. 
     After a long, cold winter, it's heartwarming to just sit back and be entertained.  And that's exactly what those two, or should I say 22, are doing.
     Patrick Spike in the duel role of actor and director has his hands full, but Connie Sander ably matches him character for character.
     OKKK's radio booth design is by Tom Roscoe, lights by Dan Mullins, with assistance by Bill Hart and costumes are lovingly gathered by Gailey Browning.  Sound engineer is Ronn Campbell, who did a great job, especially with R.R. Snavely's dueling fiddles, which are wonderful.  Wig stylist is Jayne Hornstein and as stage manager we have Torry Bryan.  To keep Connie and Patrick on the right track and with their frequent costume changes, Vikki Young acts as dresser.  So have a pleasant trip to "Greater Tuna" and give my greetings to all those endearing people.