This November, curtains at the Capital High auditorium will open for the upcoming crosstown play The Man Who Came to Dinner by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.
This hilarious comedy was originally written for the stage in the late 1930s and opened on Broadway on October 16 in 1939. After running hundreds of shows, the iconic actor Monty Woolley kept his role as Sheridan Whiteside on the big screen in 1942.
The cantankerous, quick-witted, and often hilarious Mr. Whiteside, played by HHS Senior Gibson Grigg, confined to a wheelchair, leaves madness wherever he rolls. Set in the small midwestern town Mesalia, Ohio, Whiteside finds himself trapped within the home of the Stanleys.
Chaos ensues during Christmastime as Whiteside’s longtime secretary Maggie Cutler falls in love with hometown journalist Bert Jefferson, convicts to cockroaches are invited into the home, and no one is immune to the shenanigans produced.
Speaking to students in the production, Capital High Senior Jazmine Mudget, who plays the part of Lorraine Sheldon, explained, “It’s been fun to play such a flamboyant, all-over-the-place role instead of what I’m used to. The people as well have been such a joy to be around, and I can’t wait to see what we do next. “
Helena High Senior Gibson Grigg commented that he’s “gained a whole bunch of new tools I can add to my actor’s toolbox from this show. “We’ve all put so much heart into this play, so I hope to see a big turnout!” he went on to say.
Mudget noted, “I’m most excited for the audience to experience a crosstown show that isn’t incredibly serious. The Man Who Came to Dinner is the kind of play that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s gonna happen next. From cockroaches to a Sarcophagus, you’ll never know”
Capital High Senior Ally Robinson, who plays the part of Maggie Cutler, remarked on the bittersweet feeling of the production saying, “This is going to be my last crosstown performance, which I’m sort of in denial about actually! I’ve learned so much over these four crazy years with the drama department, and it feels like I’m leaving far too soon. But I know I’m leaving it in good hands, so maybe it’s not so bad.”
Come to the Capital High Auditorium November 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18! The house opens at 5:30, show starting at 6 pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. This isn’t a show you want to miss!
