HCCT’s ‘Drop Dead!’ will bring audiences to life with laughter
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — What happens when a group of washed-up actors try to revive their careers in a play by director Victor Le Pewe? Well, it could be their final act as the rehearsals start and the body count climbs.
Welcome to “Drop Dead!
In the latest production by the Hill Country Community Theatre, the cast finds themselves in a “deadly” predicament.
“This is really a farce,” said Steve Reily, the theater’s executive director. “And what makes a farce different than a regular comedy is the situation is unimportant. The arc of the story really doesn’t matter as it does in a regular comedy or a drama. You’re laughing at the predicament of the characters.”
He described it as an “over-the-top” comedy.
The show opens April 24 and runs through May 4. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with 2:15 p.m. matinees on Sundays.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students 16 and younger. Group rates are available. Tickets may be purchased at www.thehcct.org. Reservations may be made by calling the box office at (830) 798-8944.
“Drop Dead!” features some returning faces to the theater.
Kay Baker (you can hear her on KBEY 103.9 FM’s “Wake Up Call”) plays Constance Crawford, a former silent movie star looking to relight her glow.
“Kay is a favorite with our audience,” Reily said. “She’s just really funny.”
Stan Farmer, who by day is the city manager of Horseshoe Bay, stars as Brent Reynolds, an actor also reseeking the bright lights of stardom. Moe Docherty plays Sol Weisenheimer, the producer of the play.
Some new faces include Alexandria Randolph as Candy Apples (we’ll leave the description to your imagination) and Patrick Lescarbeau as Dick Shalit, yes, Gene Shalit’s brother.
When Reily began reviewing scripts for the spring production, he read “Drop Dead!,” and something happened that has never happened before. He laughed out loud, just from reading the script. Reily knew if it had that type of impact on him the audiences would react even more from the actual on-stage production.
“All the characters have wild names. The whole idea behind this play it to make you laugh,” Reily said. “It’s as if Agatha Christie meets the Marx Brothers.”
Go to www.thehcct.org for more information.
daniel@thepicayune.com