Release Date: October 12, 2004

Junior Adam Drake (Saul Watson) (back,right); freshman Ellen Ehrenhart (Polly Benish); and sophomore Gregory Malak (Henry Benish) Download a print-quality copy of this image.

Michael Heaton (Billy Carew) and junior Lindsey Markel (Violet Imbry). Download a print-quality copy of this image.

MONMOUTH, Ill. — An unusual theatrical twist highlights the opening of Monmouth College’s 79th theater season. Performances of “Play On!,” a comedy by Rick Abbot, will be given Oct. 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. in the college’s Wells Theater.

According to Bill Wallace, professor of communication and theater arts, “Play On!” is a play within a play about a community theater troupe doing a new murder mystery play called “Murder Most Foul.” Wallace says the play follows the troupe as it “struggles to overcome everything from falling flats to a playwright who keeps changing the lines.”

Directing the production is junior Josh Sonnenburg of Portland, Ore. Assistant directors for the show are junior Adam Riegle of Peotone and freshman Danielle Prince of Morris.

Sophomore Sara Youngs of Highland Park portrays Phyllis Montague, the author of the play within a play. Phyllis keeps changing the script every week on the troupe, causing confusion and anger on the parts of the actors and community theater director, Gerry, played by junior Emily Zvolanek of Lemont.

Wallace says that Gerry has an uphill battle trying to put together the show. Even with the help of stage manager Aggie, played by freshman Catherine Lenhardt of Woodridge, and the excellent but sarcastic tech supervisor Louise, played by junior Kim Hurley of LaGrange, the play falls apart when the curtain opens with line mess-ups, missing props, a crumbling set and an aggravated author.

“The dialogue of ‘Murder Most Foul’ itself is amusing,” said Wallace, “‘Play On!’ is a great deal of fun and is right on the mark.”

Other players in the comedic twist include egocentric Polly, played by freshman Ellen Ehrenhart of Springfield, and Polly’s veteran actor/husband Henry, played by freshman Greg Malak or Orland Park. Troublemaker Saul is played by junior Adam Drake of Rockford; overacting Billy is sophomore Michael Heaton of Canton; spacey Violet is performed by junior Lindsey Markel of Sidell; and the role of first-time actress and high school student Smitty is played by freshman Holly Sanders of Peoria.

The Wells Theater is located at the corner of Broadway and Ninth St. Parking is available along Broadway.

Tickets for “Play On!” are $4 for Monmouth College students, faculty and staff; $5 for other students and senior citizens and $6 for adults. Tickets can be reserved by contacting Wallace at 309-457-2374 or by e-mailing him at billw@monm.edu.