BLT ends season with Twain laugher
The Butler Little Theatre's 71st season is ending with a bang … or at least a laugh.
Rehearsals are progressing for the Mark Twain comedy, “Is He Dead?” which opens May 11.
The tale centers around the life of Jean-Francois Millet, a young painter whose artwork is not really selling enough to pay off the debt owed to a villainous art dealer.
The love of his life is Marie Leroux, but their relationship is threatened when he fakes his death to make his artwork more valuable, and returns as his very own sister.
Mistaken identities and romantic deceptions are used to tell this comedic story, which raises questions about fame, greed, and the value of art.
With the call for an international cast, many of the actors find themselves donning accents.
Dan McCarty of Butler plays Phelim O'Shaughnessy. “He is your typical lad of Ireland, fearlessly loyal and ready to fight at the drop of a hat,” McCarty said.
“The combination of humor and ‘Oyrish' accent make the character unique and a lot of fun to play. It's a nice change from my serious role of Ludie Watts in ‘The Trip to Bountiful' earlier this year.”
Aaron Paul Zimmerman of Beaver County must put on two accents for his dual role in this production.
“My first character is Thorpe, an English aristocrat who buys paintings and gives Millet the idea about dead painters selling more work and at a higher price. Second, I play a Frenchman named Charlie who works in house of the rich widow, and isn't who he appears to be,” Zimmerman said.
The German in the show is played by Thom Hilliard of Butler.
“I play Dutchy, a German who is part of the ‘Three Amigos' or friends of Jean-Francois Millet, the soon-to-be-dead artist,” he said.
Hilliard said the most difficult part of the role is using a German accent while still making himself understood.
Bob Meals of Center Township plays the token American in the group.
“My character is Agamemnon ‘Chicago' Buckner. Chicago is one of a group of students of the main character, Jean-Francois Millet,” Meals said. “Millet is deep in debt and wracked with despair when I come up with a plan to get him out of trouble.”
One of the few ladies in the show is Danyle Verzinskie of Butler Township who plays Madame Baron.
“It is a small comical role ... Tweedle Dum to Madame Bathidle's Tweedle Dee,” she said.
Verzinskie last appeared at the Red Barn near Zelienople in “Role Play” as mother of the groom Arabella Lazenby.
“This is a great show with a lot of laughs,” she said of “Is He Dead?”
Also appearing in this BLT production are Shelby Cook, Gregory Crawford, Michael Goughler, Rikki Henderson-Stupka, Ashley Lefever, Dean Weiland and Colin Wiles.
The director is Tricia McConnell Eichler, with producers, Verzinskie and Sue Collar.
<B>WHO: </B>Butler Little Theatre<B>WHAT:</B> “Is He Dead?” by Mark Twain, adapted by David Ives<B>WHEN: </B>May 11 to 19 at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.<B>WHERE: </B>One Howard St.<B>TICKETS:</B> $10, available by calling 724-287-6781 between 7 and 9 p.m. weekdays<B>INFO: </B>www.bltgroup.org
