BLOOMFIELD, IA -- Come prepared to cheer the hero, boo the villain and laugh until the cows come home as the Davis County Children's Theatre presents the children's melodrama, "The Goodcheer Home For Broken Hearts," Friday and Saturday, June 29 and 30 at the Iowa Theatre in Bloomfield. Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m.
The play, written by Bloomfield playwright James Grob and directed by Joy Orwig and Josie Drummond of Bloomfield, consists of Davis County area actors in grades 3-6. The audience will be encouraged to participate with boos, hisses, cheers and sighs as the show spoofs the classic American melodramas popular in the 19th century.
Set in the humble village of Wetwater, the play tells the story of attempts by the evil Sir Severus C. Snackwell to con the town's fair citizens out of money and real estate for his own gain. Assisted by his "master of disguise" sidekick Al Gore, Severus sets his sights on swindling the residents of The Goodcheer Home For Broken Hearts, run by the sweet and matronly Charity Goodcheer, who happily tends to the needs of poor broken-hearted widows and orphans who have no where else to turn.
Snackwell also has unkind intentions toward the play's heroine, Shasta Bellflower, the smartest, most beautiful and best-smelling person in all of Wetwater.
The hero, the strong and ever-sincere Steele Manly, also intends to win the heart of Shasta as he fights to help Charity keep her home. The action heats up with battles of wits, swords, guns and boxing gloves throughout the play.
The good town doctor -- Melody Harmony - and the village's crazy, trigger-happy sheriff - Insanity Jane - both do what they can to give the handsome but soft-witted Steele the help he needs.
Can Steele save Shasta and The Goodcheer Home from the clutches of Severus?
The play keeps you guessing until the very end - and you better watch and listen closely along the way, because the play never passes on the opportunity for a silly joke or wild plot twist.
Bloomfield's Lyle Stirling will provide piano accompaniment throughout, while Dane Stevenson will be stage manager.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
NARRATOR - Jayln Day
VANNA - Kassidy Stremler
SHASTA BELLFLOWER - Megan McClure
STEELE MANLY - Kolton Stremler
SIR SEVERUS C. SNACKWELL - Savannah Summers THE GOOD WIDOW TANYA TEARDROP - Maddie McClure AL GORE - Blake Richards CHARITY GOODCHEER - Rylie Johnson MISS ANITA KNAPP - Abby Vaughn SHERIFF INSANITY JANE - Hailey Swan DR. MELODY HARMONY - Hannah Orwig ORPHAN TWIN 1 - Lydia Davidson ORPHAN TWIN 2 - Sydney Shively EARNEST W. GOODCHEER - Dane Stevenson
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