Local youngsters try to defy "The Rules of Comedy"

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BY DOROTHY SCHULTE
OLD FORT PLAYERS

FORT MADISON - The Young Fort Players Summer Theater Program will be performing The Rules of Comedy by Peter Bloedel. The show opens Friday July 26that 7:30 pm and runs through the weekend. Saturday night’s show also begins at 7:30 pm while Sunday’s performance is a matinee starting at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $8 for Adults and $5 for students (5-17). They are available online and at the door.

The young actors have been in rehearsal for several weeks under the direction of Richar Abel.

“This is Richar’s sixth year in charge of our youth theater and everyone has such a great time,” OFP President Ty Clute said.

“The kids even won first prize for their float in the Fourth of July parade! We were so excited for them that we keep the trophy in the lobby. It was a good opportunity for us to promote the play and our theatre and the kids we rewarded for their efforts. We’re very proud of them all.”

The young actors have been in rehearsal for several weeks under the direction of Richar Abel. “This is Richar’s sixth year in charge of our youth theater and everyone has such a great time,” OFP President Ty Clute said. “The kids even won first prize for their float in the Fourth of July parade! We were so excited for them that we keep the trophy in the lobby. It was a good opportunity for us to promote the play and our theatre and the kids we rewarded for their efforts. We’re very proud of them all.”

“Rules Of Comedy” is produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com) and sponsored by a generous grant from the United Way.

“As young as they are, there are still several cast members with many years of experience on stage. They share their expertise with the first-time actors and help me manage rehearsals,” Richar Abel said.

“It’s really a joy to see them become comfortable speaking in public and expressing their creativity and expending energy in constructive ways. That’s our goal with the youth program. We all love the theater and we want to share that with our young people."

Bring the whole family to watch this family friendly show. The audience is given a side-splitting lesson in what's funny and what's not funny. In order to prove that the Rules of Comedy work, they are hilariously inserted into one of the most popular tragedies of all time: William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The Rules of Comedy is a physical comedy "blow-out" with an interesting twist that showcases the cast's ability to handle tragic drama, as well. Playing by the rules has never been so much fun!

Here’s our cast: Narrator 1 - Xandra Abel; Narrator 2 - Mallory Troutman; Dramaturg - Juniper Strickland; Hamlet - Don Tackett; Polonius - Isaiah Meek; Laretes - Zephan Abel; Ghost - Ariana Bauswell; Horacio - Isaiah Meek; Claudius - Jackson Meek; Gertrude - Ariana Bauswell; Orsic - Jackson Meek; Ophelia - Aida Troutman; Understudy - Sunshine Zioui; Stunt double - Jackson Meek; Translator 1 - Zephan Abel; Translator 2 - Aida Troutman; Extra Cast members - Iley Troutman, Rosie Strickland, Elena Inman

Founded in 1980, Old Fort Players has been entertaining Fort Madison and the surrounding area for almost 40 years. The theater is located in downtown Fort Madison at 725 Avenue G. You can call 319-372-9559, like them on Facebook or visit www.oldfortplayers.com to keep up with everything that’s going on at the theater.

Avenue G, ofp, old fort players, Pen City Current, production, show, tickets, youth

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