Players & playing

November seemed like it was missing something.

Look no further; I've figured it out. The River City Players canceled its third and last play of the 2009 season. Apparently the flu took its toll on the handshake and the Players' holiday cast. The director cited illnesses and sparse practice attendance for calling off "Sorry, Wrong Chimney."

The group has set the 2010 season and seem to be trying to make it up to audiences. For the first time in a few years, the community theater group has scheduled four shows for a season -- "Let's Murder Marsha" in March, "Ransom of Red Chief" in June, "Panic" in September and "The Crazy Time" in November.

"Ransom" -- a comedy about two men who kidnap a child and end up getting fed up with him and returning him for much less than they hoped -- will be March 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13. Auditions for the play are 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20.

The River City Players Group provides an outlet for hobbyist thespians and a change of pace for those who want an evening out. When people talk about an "intimate little theater experience," the performances at Port Cape are what they're hoping for.

If you're hoping for more action this weekend, get ready. Friday is a veritable perfect storm of downtown entertainment. Bands in the bars, art galleries open, a craft fair/Santa exhibit at Christ Episcopal Church and the Old Town Cape Open House with extended hours at businesses downtown and on Broadway.

Hot cocoa, stuff for the little ones and a card you get stamped at different shops and enter for a shopping spree at participating businesses are part of the fun.

If you're not too tuckered out from the weekend, the premiere of "Dark Road" will be at 7 p.m. Monday in the Rose Theater on the Southeast Missouri State University campus.

The film -- unofficially rated R -- takes about 90 minutes to tell the story of a small-town sheriff called to a roadside murder and upon investigations uncovers a mob ring in his lil' town. Pat Bond and Steve Turner combined forces with other movie-minded folks in town and under the Cinema Girardeau company name, put out this new film and -- big surprise here -- are already working on another.

Having been pleasantly surprised at the talent shown by Bond and Turner with "Miller's Tale," I'm looking forward to Monday's screening.