Central caps off season of dead bodies

It seems as if all the area high schools holding fall plays decided upon a single theme -- let's make a comedy in which the plot revolves around a dead person.

The Jackson High School Thespians were the first, with "The Butler Did It," and Notre Dame Regional High School soon followed with "Blithe Spirit."

If you haven't had enough of these campy stories (which can often be quite entertaining), considering finishing off the season with a chaser of Central High School's Red Dagger.

The Dagger team throws in its version of the murder/comedy format with Tim Kelly's "The Trouble With Summer People."

A man dies in a New England bed and breakfast just a few weeks before the summer tourist season begins. Shortly after the death, when tourist season starts to get underway, several characters converge on the establishment, all with different motives and secrets.

Even though the setting is a Massachusetts island, "The Trouble with Summer People" is a nice choice for Southeast Missouri. Anyone from a small town can see someone they know in many of the characters.

The play is far more juvenile and freewheeling than the more serious comedy "The Odd Couple" Red Dagger performed in the spring, but a good choice for a high school cast. The characters give student actors a chance to go over the top while having fun.

Experienced senior Sarah Goeke looks and acts like the independent old lady as bed and breakfast owner Margaret Ames. Nice job on the makeup, Beth Davey and crew. Meanwhile, another experienced senior, Catherine Moreton, provides comic relief throughout as the super-ditz Fluff, an empty-headed woman who hula dances constantly.

Another senior, Megan Green, plays the part of a condescending and easily annoyed Harriett Elliot, a New York tabloid reporter, with a curious proficiency. Phil Brotherton, yet another senior, also stands out as a bumbling security guard who thinks he's a real police chief.

Here and there spots of clever dialogue also conjure up chuckles, even if they may not have when the play was first written. One of my favorites -- as a hurricane approaches the island, lifelong resident Margaret says, "They always say it's a hurricane when there's a bad storm."

Now that's humor.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

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Want to go?

What: "The Trouble With Summer People"

Where: Cape Central Junior High School auditorium

When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17-19

Info: 335-8228