Retired pastor writes first ‘heartfelt comedy’

Wally Steele of Custer did a great deal of writing in his 40 years as a minister and has helped with the behind-the-scenes production of dozens of plays, but he has never written a play ... until now. 

“Do You Remember?”, an original full-length “heartfelt comedy” by Wally Steele is in rehearsals and will open Friday, Sept. 6, at Custer Senior Center. 

The main characters in the script are played by Steele’s wife of 52 years, Pat Steele, and her longtime acting partner from the Custer Characters community theater group, Phyllis Stotz. Steele admits he mainly wrote the show as a vehicle for them. 

“I really wanted to see Phyllis and Pat on the stage again,” says Steele, “so I told my wife I’d write a play and I did. So my effort was one of love. I’ve been watching them practice and they’re fantastic.” 

Thea Teasley and Bob Bohlmann play supporting roles in the production. 

Steele said the play is about “two ladies who have a chance meeting in a park. They’re in their 60s, they knew each other in middle school and high school and treated each other very badly.” 

He says the pair deal with that issue in the first act, “and then in the second act they realize they could have been friends and they still have life left and they’re going to be friends.” 

Steele says, in addition to wanting to get local theater going in Custer again, he wanted to help Custer Senior Center raise needed funds. (Proceeds will go to support the senior center.) 

Finally, Steele says  “Do You Remember?” is a play with a message.

“It uses humor to show how hatred comes from misunderstandings and if we can understand that, we can overcome it and accomplish a great deal,” said Steele.

“I am so grateful to those who have helped get this off the ground,” said Steele. “Custer Arts Council, which loaned us equipment, the senior center for allowing us to use its facility, others who have donated to help with expenses. We need all the help we can get here. I do hope this will jump start the local Custer theater again with others who are interested.”

As a first-time playwright, Steele says he is surprised at how good the lines sound coming from the mouths of the actors.

“I’m watching them practice and then I say to myself, ‘Gosh, did I really write that?’,” he says, adding deferentially, “They’re seasoned actors and they’re making it fantastic.”

“Do You Remember?” will be presented Sept. 6 and again Sept. 13 as a dinner theater. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with the play after the meal. Dessert will be served during the intermission between acts. 

Tickets are $25 and are sold in advance only, as there is limited seating. Reservations may be made by contacting the senior center at 673-2708, the Steeles at 390-9520 or Stotz at 695-8014. 

Now that he has gotten his feet wet as a playwright, Steele, who says he thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing the show, has a couple of other ideas in the hopper if this goes over well.