Hot Springs takes the stage

Thespians from Hot Springs High School displayed their talents before a live audience on Tuesday, performing “The Rubber Room” a play by Pat Cook. The production centers around the high-spirited antics of a high school teacher’s lounge and the hilarity that results from teachers’ attempts to stave off boredom in the classroom.

Led by the overbearing and long-winded Superintendent Brooks played by Morgan Legard, teachers in “The Rubber Room” go to great lengths to relieve the tedium of everyday life as an educator. Planning ambushes for the principal and dressing up like Vikings and cowgirls helps ease the tension until one of them writes a book that depicts their high-jinks for all to see.

Accusations fly and the teachers nearly come to blows before Superintendent Brooks arrives to break it up and ready to fire Principal Carp played by Earl Cook. A reporter, Carson DeLay portrayed by Caley Clark, arrives ready to expose the whole group and their bizarre antics before it is revealed that the culprit behind the book was the new teacher, Candace Ostermann.

Comic relief was provided by Roy Sanders, a harmonica playing coach who is always ready to follow the herd. Teachers Jack Beddoes and Lillian Craulick played by Christopher Rosler and Heather Rosler respectively try to maintain a semblance of sanity in the group.

Candace Ostermann and Mary Ann Tatum played by Sarah Peters and Jade Smith respectively are two characters who seem to just want to get through the day intact. Bebe McDaniels, Gracie Moore and Art Muncie played by Morgan Legard, Kelea Ilac and Austin Goble respectively play clueless teachers who daydream their way through the day with delusions of grandeur.

The play was put on by the Hot Springs High School Drama Department and directed by Amy Anderson assisted by Caley Clark.

Clark said, “the performances went great. We had good attendance both nights. The community really came out to support us.”