Paradise Players perform play within a play

The Paradise Center hosted a play performed by the Paradise Players last weekend, on three separate days. "Play On by Rick Abbot" is based on how a small community theater group rehearsed for a murder mystery play called ”Murder Most Foul” The entire play takes place on the stage of a small time community theater group.

It was directed by Kathleen Hubka, who also plays the director in the play.

In the play, Hubka tries to mold a group of amateur actors into professional entertainers. She encounters bumbling stage hands, actors who can’t remember their lines, missing props and a self-centered script writer, who is constantly changing the script.

Technical Director Wendy Artz said, “It is a play within a play, where the cast experiences the subtleties of putting together a play.”

"Play On" was originally scheduled for the fall of 2022.

The audience broke into laughter with the many onstage blunders and missed cues. "Play On" was separated into three acts, with each requiring subtle changes in the scripts that each needed to memorize cumulating in the hilarious mistakes each of the cast members and stagehands made.

Cast members included Dawson Brown, playing the incompetent stagehand that never gets the sound effects figured out. Kathleen Hubka, playing the frustrated Director Geri Dunbar. Michael Murray, playing Lord Dudley, a man of high society, Sharon Murray, playing Lady Margaret, a short overweight, large rearended wife of Lord Dudley. Susannah Lindsay, playing Lady Diana Lassiter, a lady with several suiters. Susannah is also a senior at Plains High School. Benjamin Winkler, playing Dr. Rex Forbes, a man full of intrigue and possible with murder on his mind. William Largent, playing Stephen Sellers, a bumbling suiter of Lady Diana Lassiter who likes to tip the bottle between scenes. Trinity Riffle, playing the maid Doris who does a great job stumbling through her lines and her interactions with the other cast members. Riffle is currently a junior at Thompson Falls High School. Francesca Nass, who plays the disliked self-absorbed script writer.

The present group of actors have been assembled because of director Mary Lou Hermes passion for keeping drama alive in Sander County.

Actor Susannah Lindsay said, “I really enjoyed doing the play and couldn’t have done it without Kathleen and lots of improvisation.”

Kathleen Hubka said the play was lots of fun to direct.

The next scheduled play will happen in the spring and will be Steel Magnolias.