It’s a ghost story, with a twist.
The Iola Community Theatre’s production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” opens Friday evening at the ICT Warehouse.
The frequently spooky, consistently funny, and even a bit touching story runs Friday, Saturday and Feb. 10 and 12 at the ICT Warehouse. Wilde’s tale follows the exploits of Sr. Simon Canterville, a ghost who has masterfully haunted his British mansion for more than 300 years.
But what happens when the home’s newest occupants — a family of obnoxious Americans — refuses to leave, and even starts to get on the poor old ghost’s nerves?
The tables are delightfully turned on Ghost Canterville, played impeccably by ICT veteran Richard Spencer, who has spent the past several years entertaining play audiences as director.
That Spencer gets to show off his considerable acting chops is a riot, particularly as his frustration soon becomes exasperation and finally desperation. He simply cannot stand knowing anyone — especially oblivious Americans — is immune to his devious schemes.
It’s almost too much for Sir Simon Canterville to take. So how does the ghost react?
That mystery is solved at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and again Feb. 10 at 203 S. Jefferson Ave. A special matinee performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 12. Adult tickets sell for $17.31. Student tickets sell for $11.88. Tickets are available at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center and online at iolacommunitythreatre.org.
The Americans, likewise, are a hoot.
Walter Palmisano is brilliant as Hiram Otis, the family’s patriarch who initially doesn’t believe in ghosts, and is unfazed when he realizes the home may have a spectre or two still inside — as long as it would quit making those annoying noises overnight.
Alison Fees, as Hiram’s wife, Lucretia Otis, is equally unruffled upon learning of the ghost. After all, she has plenty of floor cleaner capable of ridding the carpet of its long-lasting blood stain. And surely some tonic would help cure their ill-tempered ghost of whatever stomach ailment prompts him to moan and howl through the night.
Their young sons, Chip and Charlie — played by newcomers Keagan Tadlock, Yates Center, and Cole Moyer, Iola — react as most rambunctious children might. No, they don’t recoil in horror. Rather they want to play with, or at the least, play pranks on Canterville’s ghost with firecrackers, pop guns or other toys.
But the family’s ambivalence is not unanimous.
Destiny Beal is Virginia Otis, the family’s daughter, the only house member who feels more than a little curiosity, and finally empathy, for the castle’s disgruntled ghost. Beal, of Erie, also is a newcomer to ICT. Here’s hoping she remains involved in the local drama scene for years to come. Her inquisitive, charming nature graces the stage, and will certainly entertain the audience.
Meanwhile, River Hess, another young praise-worthy thespian, is the Duke of Cheshire — nicknamed “Buffy” by the Americans — a young Brit who has taken a keen liking to the Americans, especially Virginia.
On stage all too briefly is Sam Terhune, who shines in his few scenes as Lord Canterville, a descendant of the ghost who agrees to sell the family’s mansion to the ghastly Americans, and Mati Tadlock, Yates Center, another newcomer. Tadlock sparkles as Oscar Wilde himself, who opens and closes the play with a pair of short monologues.
Last, but certainly not least, is the performance of Tracy Keagle, as Mrs. Umney, an elderly housekeeper all too familiar with the ghost’s behavior.
She is uproariously brilliant, and easily spooked, at both the ghost, and the home’s boorish new occupants.
HELPING tie the production together is director Mandy Moyer, with the assistance of Bryan Johnson. Linda Brocker handles the behind-the-scenes duties as stage manager.
They help keep the proceedings running smoothly and seamlessly in the production’s 14* scenes. (It’s actually one scene shorter, but as the program notes, the unlucky 13th scene is skipped altogether in deference to the ghost.)
The ICT troupe, en masse, deftly captures the play’s wit, charm and often funny themes.
A howlingly good time, indeed.
