Community players rendition of ‘Drinking Habits’ opens Friday

Everybody loves a good scandal.

Throughout the history of news reporting, investigative reporters have been at the forefront in uncovering them.

Perhaps the serious nature of scandals in the current news cycle has taken some of the fun out of scandal, but the comedy, “Drinking Habits” by Tom Smith, opening this weekend in Bigfork, will put the fun back in.

Unlike the dark comedy that is the real news of the day, “Drinking Habits” is a lightweight scandal that allows people, for a couple of hours, to experience the pure joy of comedy resulting from mischief that reaches no deeper than a couple of nuns running an illicit winery.

Drinking Habits is presented this weekend and next at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts by the Bigfork Community Players, a company that bills itself as “Serious About Comedy.”

The comedy evolves when two ambitious reporters with a bit of history try to break a story and end up becoming part of the story themselves.

“Comedy succeeds by poking fun at the uncomfortable aspects of life,” says producer David Vale. “But to remain humorous, it has to touch those aspects lightly. We can accept the naughtiness of nuns making wine without the uncomfortable condemnation obliged by a more serious scandal.”

“I’m having a good time directing this cast of characters,” Goroski said. “It’s made up of roughly equal parts of experienced local actors and new faces, some who have never been onstage before. I’m excited by how well they’re all doing and how the whole show is coming together. I think the audiences will find it a real treat.”

Goroski has significant experience himself, being one of the longest serving members of the Bigfork Community players. He has directed several plays prior to this one and has acted in even more. His recent appearances onstage have been in “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” “Moonlight and Magnolias,” and The Odd Couple.

Would he rather act or direct, though?

“That’s a hard question,” he said. “I think it’s probably more fun to bring a character to life onstage as an actor. But bringing a whole play to life as a director certainly gives me a feeling of accomplishment.”

Drinking Habits opens Friday, April 21, and plays for two weekends through April 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are available at Bigfork Drug, the Pocketstone Cafe, at the door, and at www.BigforkCommunityPlayers.com.