Freeport Theatre Festival’s 'Bertha and Bailey’s Circus' opens Friday

In addition to showcasing a bevy of local talent, Freeport Theatre Festival’s production of “Bertha & Bailey’s Circus” is more fun than a trip to Kennywood, promises the festival’s artistic directors.

The comedy opens Friday and runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until Aug. 29 at the festival’s theater in Allegheny Township.

“It’s for the child in everyone,” said co-artistic director Marushka Steele.

She runs the theater with her husband, Rennick Steele. It is based in a customized barn at the couple’s farm in Allegheny Township.

“Bertha & Bailey’s Circus” is the last show of the theater’s 32nd season. Earlier this year, the theater presented, “The Rainmaker.”

The couple added air-conditioning for this season.

The two-act play, written by Rennick Steel and Chloe Marin, follows the interesting relationship between two brother clowns, Bozo (Courtney Riffer of Vandergrift), a funny clown; and Wing Ding (Mike Firek of Vandergrift), an unfunny clown.

Fed up with being unpopular, Wing Ding leaves the circus, makes a career change and becomes a ruthless investment banker. Wing Ding buys up the shares of the circus to close it down.

Bertha (Sharon Riffer of Vandergrift) holds the roadshow together as rainy weather botches performances while the bills pile up.

“It’s about laughter and silliness,” Marushka Steele said. “It’s a farce. It’s Vaudeville and a madcap comedy.”

Rennick Steele wrote the play with Marin when Marin took Steele’s playwriting class at Chatham University in 1997. The circus idea came up during a class exercise in improv. Marin ran with the idea, which Steele has expanded over the years. This is the theater’s third run of the show.

“It just keeps getting better,” Steele said. “People will love it — there’s no politics.”

The cast of 14 players will act without masks as everyone in the production has been vaccinated, Steele said.

Characters and performers include Purcilla the Bearded Lady (Anne Lindsay of Sarver); Judy the Tightrope Walker (Lacy Smith of Harrison); Wilbur the Strong (Mario Lesko of Sarver); Lizard Woman (Lauren Michaels of Allegheny Township); Joe the Lion Tamer (Dave Ross of Vandergrift); Gorilla Man (Jim Knapick of Saxonburg); and Doc Gizzard (James Neal of Ford City).

Reservations by phone or on the web are recommended.