Snodgrass Sisters

BY HELEN HANNAN
Courier correspondent

UNIONVILLE - "We were pigs first" deadpanned Letha Cormeny. "Really," she insisted, explaining that she and Sue Speas were two-thirds of the popular pig act that performed for several years on the Unionville annual variety show, "Hee Haw."

When "the costumes were lent out and never came back," Cormeny organized the Snodgrass Sisters who have performed regularly on "Hee Haw" since 1989.

The stand-up comedy group includes: Cormeny, alias Thelma; Speas (Eunice); Connie Zuercher (mamma); Nancy Ewing (Prissy); Janice McDonough (Baby Jane); and Precious, the dog.

Because of conflicting work schedules, "getting together to practice is hard," said Cormeny.

"We go on stage with a basic plan. Usually what comes next is pure ad lib, which is funnier anyway," she said. The show runs two nights and "we do a different sketch every night."

As the Snodgrass theme song, "Pretty Woman," and motto, "Smorgus board of lovely woman flesh," suggest, the basis of many sketches is the difficulty of trying to get a man. Other topics include current events and public figures.

"Working the crowd" is a fun part of every "Hee Haw" appearance. "We wear a lot of cheap lipstick and kiss as many men as possible, leaving big lip prints," giggled Speas.

"Have lips, will travel," is another motto, smirked Zuercher.

Easily identifiable in their outrageous costumes, the group often appears in area parades in their unreliable pink car.

 "Dressing up [as Snodgrass Sisters] changes you" Zuercher said.

Or, maybe not. Perhaps as Cormeny said, "we live it." Relaxed around her kitchen table boisterously relating tales of hilarious antics and near disasters experienced during past vacations or performances, they are as bright and funny as any Snodgrass Sister stage presentation.

Their individual and collective talent for comedy is evident as with everyone talking about the hilarious tale of "the day the car quit." "We got out of the car and we pushed that sucker through the parade," chuckled Speas. The parade route was long. The black topped street turned sticky under the hot sun. She was wearing "big house slippers and kept getting stuck," laughed Ewing.

The group has been hired us as ice breakers for a party. "We give people the right to be silly without being drunk." Cormeny said.

Occasionally, Snodgrass Sisters activities stray from stage or parade into other venues of comedy such as the calendar featuring a different photo each month. Originally the plan was to give the calendars to friends and family until they learned they had to order a minimum of 500.

The calendars were sold to recover the printing cost. Cormeny bragged, "We sold every one of them!"

Their latest venture, Red Neck Christmas at the Cormeny home, was a hit. "A lot of people came," she said. And, "people keep asking if we are going to do it again!"

While the women obviously enjoy their act both on stage and off they laughingly admit that most of their respective children disown any relationship when they are in costume.

Cormeny and Ewing each have three living children, also nine and three grandchildren, respectively. Speas has two children, three stepchildren and 10 grandchildren; Zuercher has two children.

In real life, Ewing works for Hospice; Cormeny works at Bloomfield First Resources; McDonough is postmaster; Speas works part time for Burrell Locker and baby-sits grandchildren; Zuercher is retired.

For most of the women, their silliness is therapeutic. In a serious moment while discussing their penchant for humor, Speas said that Cormeny "is funniest when she has the most troubles."

It's how she deals with sorrow, Cormeny said. "When you make someone else laugh, you laugh."

"Sometimes humor is all you've got," Ewing said.

Both have experienced the devastating grief of losing a child. Cormeny and Speas have each lost a husband.

"Life may not be all you wanted, but since I'm here, I'll dance, Cormeny said. The others agreed.