Swink Drama Hilariosly Caught in the Act

Description: Christian Barnhart, Police sergeant resembling Groucho Marx, explains there is a homicidal maniac who can look like anyone he/she pleases and has only two faults, can’t remember lines and allergic to roses. He is talking with Myron, handyman and custodian, played by Austin Patton. Photo by Bette McFarren...

Swink High School Drama Presents “Caught in the Act”

Swink’s play this fall is a backstage comedy, “a tribute to the art of slapstick comedy.” That means everybody should catch the jokes, and there are lots of laughs to add to your enjoyment, three of the performances feature refreshments: on Sunday, dinner is served at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m., and on Monday, dessert only, at 6:30.

Most of the players are juniors and seniors, some of which are becoming seasoned players, with a few freshmen and sophomores thrown in for seasoning.

As the play begins, there is a lot of confusion preparing the set, with the source being the meaning of “stage right” and “stage left” with the placement of chairs, causing a lot of extra work for Myron, played by Austin Patton (HS junior)  as janitor and handyman. Think now - remember high school plays - that’s the first term you learned.

Entrances were made during the first act via a staircase up to the stage, with the actors coming in as from the street. It added to the effect of everybody getting ready to rehearse the play.

As the plot thickens and the joke has gone about as long as it can, actors start arriving to take part in the rehearsal - via the portable steps in the center of the stage, actors walking in from the auditorium.

Later we learn, as Sgt. Hawke enters near the end of the first act (pun no doubt intended, since he looks like Grouch Marx and has a hawk-like nose) that there is a killer among them. This is a killer who can look like anyone he/she wishes, and has but two flaws: this actor cannot remember his/her lines and is allergic to roses. An attempt to catch the imposter fails as the roses were fake.

Gathering around to console Darla, played by Madalyn Tafoya.

As the play stumbles on in a slapstick-hilarious manner, the audience is sure to have fun. Bonnie Grossen is back to put the professional touch on this high school production, along with her former cohorts and a few new hands. The kids have fun, too, with much running on and off-stage, funny mistakes, and offstage noises.

The cast: Myron is played by Austin Patton, a junior, playing the confused janitor and handyman; Lucy (flighty assistant director) is played by Aubrey Stover, a junior; Gracie (director with high blood pressure) is played by Lindsey Briscoe, a senior; Cal (Darla’s best friend) is played by Mason Smith, a freshman; Chuck by Dylan Hammontree (an actor just there to do his job), a sophomore; Helen (a customer who jumps to conclusions) by Kyra Bierbaum, a junior; Marc (slightly daffy) by Blake Smith, freshman; Sylvia (actress who is a bit over the top) by Jansen Ediger, a senior; John is played by Gannon Hart (loves to eat, likes to act), a freshman; Freddie (an actor who is a bit green) by Grant Pickering, freshman;  Ace (rather suave, glib actor) by Christian Barnhart, junior, (who later appears as police sergeant who warns of a murderer in their midst); Dena (actress who has seen it all) by Audrey Leitner, sophomore;  Page (teenage actress, not very focused) is played by Benny Corbari, a junior; Darla (new actress on the block) is played by Madalyn Tafoya, freshman, who has a lot of chase scenes; Derek Powell has two roles, Habershaw (meek owner of the theater) and Latimer (middle-aged businessman) and is a sophomore. All but one of them is plainly audible to a hearing-impaired reviewer.

The game’s afoot at the Swink auditorium/lunchroom this weekend as Swink Drama presents "Caught in the Act". The whole family can enjoy this dinner/dessert theater.

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Photo Gallery by Bette McFarren

Sylvia, played by Jansen Ediger

Gathering around to console Darla, played by Madalyn Tafoya.

Nobody knows Darla and she appears on the scene late. Probably a red herring.

Measuring for costumes was on-the-spot.

Entrances were made during the first act via a staircase up to the stage, with te actors coming in as from the street. It added to the effect of everybody getting ready to rehearse the play.