You may remember actresses and sisters Marlene and Darlene from Leota, Minnesota. (They drive to Luverne in their Toyota.)
DJ Luethje and I created the elderly characters who performed a show, “Marlene and Darlene Present the Nutcracker,” at Luverne’s Palace Theatre in December of 2018.
It was a fundraiser for the construction of a new senior citizens building.
The show raised $15,000 in spite of the fact that Darlene put out a “suggestion” box instead of a “donation” box. It was considered a success.
A lot has changed since then. A few short weeks after the fundraiser the Palace closed, as did the senior center.
Marlene blamed herself.
She spent the next two years in a Dorito-fueled depression. Her formerly Dutch-lady clean house filled with empty Doritos bags, Edgerton Bakery wrappers and the used Kleenexes she generated watching the Hallmark Channel.
She gained 50 pounds.
Darlene, always spunky and looking at the bright side of things, has had enough of her sister’s dark mood. “Oh, for Pete’s sake! It was Covid, not you, that closed the Palace! Go outside! You’ll feel better.”
Marlene remains unmoved.
At wit's end, Darlene has hatched a scheme to get Marlene to join a fitness class at the senior center, now known as Generations, in the former Grand Prairie Events.
Will Darlene be successful? Will Marlene ever get out of her post-Covid funk, clean up her house and lose all that weight?
The answer to these questions will be revealed at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at Generations when we bring our characters back to the stage.
The goal is to raise (another) $15,000 for Generations.
Stay tuned for more information and answers to additional questions, such as, “Will the building even be open on April 28?” “Will George Bonnema donate a carrot cake?” and, “Will Marlene fall off the stage attempting a fitness move?”
I’m just as curious as you are.