Cape Central theater students to host 'God's Favorite'

As students in Cape Central High School's theater department prepared the set of "God's Favorite" on Monday, they described the hard work they've put in during the past couple months.

"This is the first time we as school are really strutting our stuff," said Zach Reece, a 12th-grade student who will play a leading role.

The lighthearted play, based loosely on the Book of Job and set in the 1940s, will be held in Kinder Performance Hall at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"It's a retelling of the story of Job from the Bible, and they're renamed the Benjamin family," said director Kimberly Wibbenmeyer. "Along with the story of Job, there's also a bit of an underlying story of the prodigal son, as well."

Reece will be playing Joe Benjamin, head of the household.

"He's a very God-driven man," Reece said. "He's not really one to joke around. And most of his time is occupied with keeping up with his family."

Reece, among seven other cast members, had to memorize about 80 pages of dialogue, and he has been practicing almost daily.

"It's very physical, but it tells a good story," he said. "There's lots of moving. You'll see me falling down the stairs, rolling around and getting sores put on me."

The audience also will see "major technical aspects" as part of the production, Reece said.

"In the play, the house burns down," he said. "It's one big set change, and we have to do it during intermission. It's very choreographed and intense."

Tenth-grader Katherine Carns and 11th-graders Michaela Lovig and Kendra Gosche worked to complete finishing touches on the set Monday.

They'll be among 20 to 25 people working backstage at any given time. The set includes 12-foot walls, a fireplace and a dining room, where most of the scenes take place.

"I was here on Friday painting a lot of stuff," Lovig said. "And once you see it all come together, it's like, that's what I've been working toward."

Gosche added: "There's definitely a sort of pride there that says, 'I built this.'"

Tickets are $7 for general admission and $5 for district employees and students with a school identification.

"This is what we can really do," Reece said of the production. "If we end up pulling it off as well as I think we're going to, it's going to be hilarious."

klamb@semissourian.com

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1000 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.