River City Players kick off holidays with 'Christmas Cactus'

Described by a cast-member as "funny" and "well-connected," the River City Players Christmas dinner theater "A Christmas Cactus" opens tonight at Port Cape Girardeau's Yacht Club.

"We really want to get people in the Christmas spirit," director Brenda Ferguson said. "We have a great cast that has worked hard and we want to get everyone in the right spirit."

"A Christmas Cactus" is a murder mystery comedy set in detective Cactus O'Reily's office on Christmas Eve. Cactus (Heather Themm) and her secretary Freda (Andrea Shovan) are trying to avoid deputy district attorney Stuart Windsor (Mike Craig) and Freda's mother Adelaide (Tana Howard), when two fugitives, Neville Smedley (Larry Davis) and Ramon Ramirez (Michael Toeniskoetter), break into the office and force Cactus to take their case to prove their innocence. Adelaide enters the office to find the confrontation only to believe it is a surprise Christmas murder mystery for her.

According to Ferguson, the audience can expect to be surprised and can relax and enjoy great food and entertainment. She said "A Christmas Cactus" is a family-friendly play that is full of comedy, mystery and romance.

"The actors transport you, and you'll feel like you are right there with them," Ferguson said.

"A Christmas Cactus" is Ferguson's directorial debut, which she described as "a wonderful experience."

"We have a good range of talent that has needed very little directing," she said.

Also making her debut is Themm, who plays the title character.

"This has been an exciting challenge," she said. "I have spent several years as a stay-at-home mother and needed an outlet. I've always had an interest in acting and to step out of the mommy zone has been a fun and rewarding challenge. I'm really excited for my children to see what I've been working on."

Themm said she was surprised when she received the lead role but said it's vindicating to be successful at something she has an interest in. She said she has become more nervous as opening day approaches, but the cast has been very supportive and she used her nervousness to fuel working hard and becoming her character.

Heather Themm, left, and Mike Craig play private detective Cactus O'Reily and Deputy District Attorney Stewart Windsor during a rehearsal for "A Cactus Christmas," Wednesday, November 7, at Port Cape. The two-act play by Ellen Byerrum, who writes under the name Eliot, is a comedic mystery set on Christmas Eve. (ADAM VOGLER)

"Cactus is dedicated to what she does," Themm said. "She finds her career as a detective can be rewarding if she works for it. She gets her big payoff and it renews her."

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m. each day, with the curtain rising at 8 p.m. Dinner theater shows will take place tonight, Saturday and Nov. 16 and 17. There will be a show-only performance at 7 p.m. Nov. 15. Tickets are $35 for the dinner theater or $15 (or $10 with a Southeast Missouri State University student ID) for the show only. To make show reservations, call 334-0954.

apicar@semissourian.com

388-3648

Want to go?

What: "A Christmas Cactus"

When: Dinner show at 7 p.m. today, Saturday and Nov. 16 and 17; show-only performance at 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Port Cape Girardeau

Info: 334-0954

Pertinent address:

19 N. Water St., Cape Girardeau, MO