By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
Names can be tricky.
Especially if one is suffering from temporary amnesia.
The conundrum is known all too well for the Lake Orion Thespian Troupe 2898 who invites the community to witness first hand their quirky comedy’Don’t Mention My Name’by Fred Carmichael.
For the eight-student cast, the spy-based comedy has taught them the nature of the farce, in a quick-paced smattering of jokes that keeps the story rolling.
Check out their show November 19, 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., or on Sunday, November 22 at 2 p.m.
Director Scott Finn said because this humorous plot would probably never happen in real life, it gave the students a chance to explore their characters boldly on stage.
‘With comedy you have a little more room to make bold choices and make the characters a little more over the top,? he said. ‘Now we just need an audience to bring out that energy.?
Senior Dominick Todero plays the ‘the man?, who thinks he must have hit his head.
After stumbling into a bed and breakfast, the man – who can’t remember his name – is told he has been expected.
Each character he runs into, however, know him as someone he is not.
The beautiful real estate lady, played by Shannon Line, calls him by one name, and business executive (Coby Selent) and secretary (Hannah Gutelius) another. Still it gets even more confusing, as the executive’s wife (Kris Fitzgerald) knows him by a third name and the obsessed jogger (Josh Johr), housekeeper (Megan Lareau), and Broadway actress (Laura Pavliscak) each call him something entirely different.
Who is this guy, and what’s the ulterior motive?
Lucky for the amnesiac, the real estate lady agrees to help him.
‘It’s kind of a spy-based comedy, so while they’re trying to find out who he is, they are also trying to figure out what this shady deal going down is all about,? Finn said.
When the man and real estate agent find a briefcase of money role playing becomes even more far-fetched, as characters are not always what they seem to be.
Expect several dialects, non-stop jogging, witty dialogue and goofy people for the 95-minute performance at the Lake Orion High School auditorium.
The technical crew of about 35 students finished the set, consisting primarily of the bread and breakfast common area, last Saturday, and thespians were rehearsing every day after school up until the grand opening.
The show is ‘louder, faster and funnier? than the previous performance of the historical fiction,’Inherit the Wind,’and for this reason Finn believes it will be appealing to middle school students and high schoolers, along with parents.
So, if you are looking for an upbeat comedy, contact the department at’locsboxoffice@lakeorion.k12.mi.us’to make reservations. Adult tickets are $8, and students/seniors pay $5.