Raucous farce promises door-slamming laughs
Dead bodies always kill the mood - especially when the guy who discovers the deceased is a well-known political figure attempting to cheat on his wife with the opposition's secretary.
But when the husband and his mistress try to cover it up to save their own reputations, well, that's when the North Central College student director series production gets a little "Out of Order."
"At first, it looks like it's going to be some sort of political romance," said Curtis Stelter, who plays a waiter in the production that opens at 7:30 p.m. today at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. "After the body is discovered, it quickly changes to slapstick stuff. It just continues to get more and more crazy and more and more hectic."
A fast-paced farce written by British playwright Ray Cooney, "Out of Order" is an uproarious, door-slamming jaunt, student Director Alyssa Digges said.
"It's just hysterical," Digges said. "The physical comedy is the funniest part. It goes on throughout the show and there are a lot of bawdier jokes. I was very careful that it would go over the heads of the younger audience members."
The 10-member cast executes crazy humor on a minimalist, static set that moves fluidly without scene breaks.
While the lead characters continue at a frenetic pace to hide their impropriety by calling in help that only hurts, Stelter's character, the waiter, zips in and out sprinkling one-liners as he goes.
"Instead of helping, I just seem to add more mayhem to it," Stelter said. "I get to sit there and make one-liners and poke holes in their story."
"Out of Order" is a show of firsts for North Central.
It's the first full-length play Digges has directed.
For many of the actors, the stage hand and even the play's faculty adviser, it's the first full-length play where they've flown solo.
"It's been really exciting to see everyone shine and really be in their element," Digges said.
In a world where everyone is multi-tasking and life is so fast-paced, this production takes aim at those who dismiss the comedy of the theater, Digges said.
"It's a chance to show the theater can be just as funny as movies," she said. "You're only paying five bucks to come see the show, but it's going to be good and it's going to be fun."
For details, call (630) 637-7469 or visit northcentral college.edu/show.
<p class="factboxheadblack">"Out of Order" </p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday, Jan. 7-9</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> North Central College's Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville</p>
<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students</p>
<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 637-7469 or <a href="http://northcentralcollege.edu/show" target="new">northcentralcollege.edu/show</a></p>