Those attending “Leading Ladies” at Nacogdoches High School next month might “laugh oneself into stitches” at the performance, to quote the Bard himself.
The play, written by Ken Ludwig, is a comedy that tells the story of two down-on-their-luck English Shakespearean actors who hit upon a get rich scheme to bilk a dying widow out of her estate.
The NHS theater class is staging “Leading Ladies” for its fall show. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6, at the NHS auditorium. The house opens at 6:30 both nights, and tickets are $5 at the door.
Jack and Leo, the two main characters, are so down on their luck they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in Pennsylvania Amish country when they hear of an elderly woman in nearby York, Pa., who’s about to die and leave her fortune to two long lost English nephews.
Jack and Leo, wondering why they can’t be those lost nephews, hatch a plan to pass themselves off as the woman’s relatives.
When they arrive in York, Jack and Leo discover there’s one problem (well, really two)... the nephews are actually nieces. So, Jack and Leo decide to do the honorable thing – try to pass themselves off as the nieces named Maxine and Stephanie.
“It’s very funny,” said Grayson Rhoden, a senior who plays Leo in the story. “I really like the creative aspect of it. And there’s a lot of room for actors to branch out.”
Jacob Norman, also a senior, plays Jack. “Leading Ladies” is his seventh production to be a part of since beginning in theatre as a freshman.
“I feel like theatre has helped me with my confidence,” Jacob said. “It’s been such an amazing experience to get to know new people and also do these awesome shows.”
Joining Grayson and Jacob in the case are Peyton Lewis, playing the role of Meg; Grayson Corbin as the Rev. Duncan Woolery; Rees Runnells as Dr. Meyers; Hadley Harris as Florence Snider; Katie Rocha as Butch Myers; and Lourdes Leon as Audrey.
Technicians for the production include Bella Clay as stage manager; Melanie Garcia as assistant stage manager; Lillian Nelson on sound; and Sylvia Jones on lights. The backstage tech crew includes Julian Pruit and Keiran Middlebrooke. Yuki Mitchum is handling hair and costumes; and Kyla Bowden and Oren Kendall are the house crew.
The show is directed by theatre teacher Victoria Perry and Grace Montes.