WTC brings 'sweet-and-sour' 'Ripcord' to stage
The cast of the “Ripcord” includes, in back David Blair, Adam Pitman and Andrew Matulionis; front, CrisMarie Campbell, Penny Carpenter, Nancy Nei and Scarlett Schindler. (Photo courtesy of Whitefish Theatre Co.)
The Whitefish Theatre Co. presents its third Black Curtain Theatre production of the 2018-2019 season with the tastily sweet-and-sour comedy “Ripcord” at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. This hilarious and moving play has performances on Jan. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Battle lines are being drawn at the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. The prize? A sunny room on an upper floor that is prime real estate. Cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, a fiercely cheerful new roomie who wants the bed next to the window. Abby decides she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. A seemingly harmless bet between the women not only reveals the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but quickly escalates into an outrageous game of oneupmanship.
“A ripcord is a cord or wire pulled in making a descent to release a parachute out of its container,” says Director Katie Nixon. “In many ways, release is the perfect word to describe ‘Ripcord,’ this fabulous play by the always brilliant David Lindsay-Abaire. It provides a release of laughter with abandon, it is smart deceit, and it is friends and family showing loving sweetness while facing hard truths.”
Cast members include Penny Carpenter as Abby, Nancy Nei as Marilyn, Andrew Matulionis as Scotty, David Blair as Benjamin, Lewis and the Clown, Adam Pitman as Derek, the Zombie Butler and the Masked Man, Scarlett Schindler as Colleen and the Woman In White, and CrisMarie Campbell reading stage directions.
“I am completely humbled by my cast members, all of whom I have been lucky enough to act with but have never directed,” says Nixon.
As a Black Curtain production, there will minimal staging, no set or props, and actors will be reading from a script. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students. All employees with a government ID can attend this show for free.
Tickets can be purchased at the box office, at whitefishtheatreco.org or at the door. The Box Office, located at 1 Central Ave. in Whitefish. For information, call 862-5371. This show is sponsored by Soroptomist International of Whitefish.