It is all about the role.
On June 5th and 6th, the 20/30 drama class at Central Alberta Christian High School will be putting on its production of Hillbilly Hankerin’.
Director Diane McLeod said that everything about the play including why it was chosen, why audiences will enjoy it and why the cast has done so well rehearsing, is related to the roles of the play.
McLeod said that one of the things she enjoys about directing is watching the cast “Fall into their roles” and this play is a perfect example of that. The cast, she said, truly become the characters they play on the stage and become completely absorbed by the storyline.
“What typically happens – and it happened once again this year – is they have memorized the play.” She explained this means most cast members have memorized the entire play, not just their own parts.
With the cast themselves so engaged in the play, it should not be difficult for them to engage the audience as well, said McLeod. Again, what she said audiences will probably enjoy most about the production is watching the cast become characters on stage.
“Well, hopefully they will enjoy the whole thing,” she added with a smile.
Hillbilly Hankerin’, a play by Pat Cook, is a show for the whole family, said McLeod. It is set in the modern day Ozarks and involves two feuding families who are fighting for control of a plot of land. While the feud between the Herefords and Guernseys has been going on for decades, it becomes even more complicated when government man Marcus Slidell shows up to buy the land from the Herefords, the family that currently owns the plot. Oh, and there is a love story too.
Charlemaine (Charlie) Herford is smitten by Slidell and gets old Widder Perkins to fix up a love potion or Charlie to catch the government man’s eye. That’s where things really heat up as girls from both sides, all of whom have ‘the hankerin’ to find a man to get hitched, try to snag government men for themselves and the fight for the ‘holler’, the contested plot of land, gets more intense.
Hillbilly Hankerin’ will play at the CACHS gym on June 5th and June 6th. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m. for both nights.
McLeod said that tickets are $10 and proceeds will go to covering the production costs for the play.
She added Thursday night is almost sold out but there are still some tickets for Wednesday night’s show. For tickets visit the CACHS office or for more information call 403-782-4535.