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July 6, 2006
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July 6, 2006 |
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Police report takes to YSKP stage
In a conveniently unnamed town, where the police blotter in the local paper reports incidents of menacing raccoons, joggers with too-short shorts, bear sounds wafting from the Glen and misplaced bicycles, someone is desperately needed to rescue the terrorized villagers. But the local police force has been mysteriously disbanded, and the only person who has volunteered to solve the crimes is Josie, a Hollywood actress who wears hot pink sunglasses. What will it take to save the people from the vicious, man-eating raccoons?! The cast of this summer’s second YS Kids Playhouse show, CSI:YS, won’t spoil the suspense of what they called a “hysterical,” “utterly ridiculous,” “classic mystery with a million spins,” written by YSKP alumnus Andrew Beal and based on the police reports in the Yellow Springs News. According to director Mary Kay Clark, “It’s a show where the kids are pretending to be their parents and the community in an over-the-top way.” Performances for CSI:YS are Friday through Sunday, July 7–9, and Wednesday through Saturday, July 12–15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Antioch Theatre. Preparing for their playful commentary on the village, the cast trolled through stacks of police reports and added their favorites to the script, taking liberties to embellish some of them “just a little” for the play, according to Clark. Meg Hild, who plays Josie, especially liked the call from a woman who reported that she wrecked her car, her daughter wrecked her car, and her daughter wrecked her car into her car. Michelle Click, who plays Ricky the reporter, liked the report from a person who heard sounds coming from the Glen and thought it might be a bear. The reports were reenacted and, with the help of Rachel Haines, stage manager, were caught on video to be screened onstage as the backdrop for the play, which begins on a “dark and stormy night” as the townsfolk protest against the police. Newsperson Newton, played by Anna Carlson, begins coverage from her anchor seat with help from Ricky and Public Access Paul (Cayden DeFusco), who are live on the scene at the town hall. Zeke Hardman, the dim mayor, eliminates the police department and announces Josie’s arrival, while the police captain (Hana Katz-Stein) and deputy (Kelly Miller) vow to go on protecting the town as “caped crusaders in the night.” Meanwhile, a pod of squeeky raccoons (Sophie Davidson, Abigail Dawson, Erin Grote, Mikaela Howell, Annie Rodenfels and Lilly Todd) are getting sick from something Pizza Peter (Humza Bashir) is dumping behind his business, and a cast of other suspects, such as Sister-McSister (Audrey Martin), Thurman Kids 1 and 2 (Mary Lewis and Kaila Russell), Thurman’s dog (Mary Triplett) and Person in Blue (Abbie Reed), are all playing off each other’s hysteria and causing mayhem throughout the town. And that’s just the beginning... After their hard work, the cast members, who range in age from 8 to 16, are sure that audiences will get a good laugh and be drawn in by the intrigue and plot-twisting fun as they try to sort out all of the mysteries. “It’s so bizarre and so weird, people have to come and see how it all works and fits together in the end,” Miller said. The cast also includes Lucy Callahan, Taylor Rodenfels, Abby Rodenfels, Ruth Scherr, Emma Holman-Smith and Hue White as townspeople and technical crew. Costumes were created by Kathy Gardner and Lisa Hunt, with lighting design by Justin Keen and art direction by Pierre Nagley. The set was built by Dylan Rauch, Dave Hild and parents of the cast. Viki Church is the show’s production coordinator, Claire Triplett is the lightboard operator and the sound and audiovisual work is performed by Andrew Keahey. Tickets for the show are $10 for adults, $8 for students and senior citizens. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 769-1030. The audience is invited to Meet the Cast Night at Young’s Jersey Dairy after the last Friday performance. Contact: lheaton@ysnews.com |
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