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The old saying, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride,” may be true in some cases, though there may be women who are always called on to be a bridesmaids – either because they have many friends or made a pact to do so.

The latter reason is a pivotal plot point in Mount Marty College’s (MMC) upcoming theatre production “Always A Bridesmaid.” Written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, the comedic play focuses on four women who, in high school, made a promise to each other to be bridesmaids at each of their weddings, no matter what.

The play will be presented April 6-9 at the Marian Auditorium on the MMC campus. For tickets, call 605-668-1234.

The story takes place over approximately seven years in the late 20th century, where each of the friends has a wedding, with circumstances ranging from a not-so elegant ceremony to a reluctant marriage.

The production is really a play within a play, director Andy Henrickson said.

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“We’re trying to get the idea across that the people who come to the play are going to a wedding venue where the wedding is happening in front of us, but we go back in time to see the other wedding days,” he explained.

The setting of the play takes place in a wedding venue in Virginia, which gives the play a southern flavor, he added.

“There are some farcical elements in it,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of physical humor. It gets a little ridiculous.”

It gives the six-member, all-female cast — Gabrielle Slowey, Alanna Binder, Vanessa Ryken, Rachel Shippy, Megan Patterson and DaNeila Jensen — an opportunity to stretch their comedic abilities.

“They each bring something great to the show,” he said. “The characters are very different and all have their own personalities.”

This play also led Henrickson to discovering a new acting talent on the MMC campus.

“I’ve worked with a few of the other actresses before, but there was one that I’d never seen before whose one of those ‘Where did she come from?’” he said, referring to Jensen, an MMC freshman from Gayville. “It’s always great when you have someone come in that you don’t know. Hopefully, that will send a message to the other students that the plays are open to everybody.”

That message is further helped by approximately 50 students working in the cast and crew, some of whom haven’t stepped foot in a theatre before, he added.

While the play is a straight-up comedy, it also shows the strength of friendship.

“It’s special that these women say they’ll do this for each other in high school and by the time the play ends, they’re in their 50s and still getting together,” Henrickson said. “It’s kind of a ‘chick flick.’ I can envision groups of women coming and relating to things similar in their lives that the women in the play are going through.”

It also relates somewhat to his life, as he had a daughter get married in the fall and has another marrying in June.

“It’s my life at home and at work, so why not do a play about weddings?” he remarked.

Audience members should also find enjoyment in the play, whether they’ve been a part of wedding before or not, he added.

“We even put on the poster it’s a LOL comedy,” he said. “I hope people get entertainment out of it, whether it’s the verbal or physical humor. We want to give people a good time.”

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