Redhound Theatre opens season with ‘Maid to Order’ Thursday

Above, the cast of "Maid to Order" practices Monday during a dress rehearsal in the Corbin High School Audiotorium.

The curtain is set to go up on the new season at the Redhound Theatre Thursday with the performance of Matthew K. Begbie’s, "Maid to Order."

Theatre Director Schann Mobley described the 50 minute play as a farce, a comedy that includes mistaken identity, with a little bit of slapstick.

The play begins with Marcy Mallinger, a wealthy widow, who is expecting her beau for dinner.

"She is kind of an eccentric rich woman," Mobley said of Marcy. "She has flighty moods and she is kind of up and down. She is demanding and a little bit irrational."

Her household staff is preparing for the dinner while Marcy’s adult son, Gerald, who still lives at home, attempts to put the moves on the newly hired maid, Sarah.

Sarah’s brother, James arrives at the house as he is attempting to hide from a mobster.

"He is a con man who always owes somebody money and this house is huge," Mobley said. "While he is there, he flirts with the other maid."

When Marcy’s beau arrives for dinner, he is none other than the mobster from whom James is hiding.

"The action centers around the two maids," Mobley said. "They know everything that is going on. They know about the guy that is hiding. They know about the guy that is coming."

Mobley said with a number of freshmen in the theatre program, "Maid to Order" is a good choice for them to get their feet wet. It will give the new actors something manageable in terms of memorizing lines and getting comfortable with their characters

"I find that fast paced comedies that aren’t too long are really good training shows," Mobley said.

It is light hearted but with comedy you still have to learn about timing," she said. "There is a rhythm to comedy."

The curtain will go up at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Betty Hamilton Center for the Performing Arts at Corbin High School

"Maid to Order," marks the first of three plays the theatre program will perform during the school year.

The second will be, "Match girl’s Gift at Christmas," by Laurie Brooks.

Set in the heart of New York City on Christmas Eve in 1898, the story follow, "Lizzie," a ragged little girl huddled by the steps of an elegant home.

Her grandmother gives Lizzie the gift of "waking dreams" that help her imagine what might be. Through the dreams, Lizzie recognizes her own beauty and realizes that without dreams for the future, there is no hope.

Mobley said this is a musical version for the stage.

"It ends a lot happier than the book," Mobley said of this rendition.

Performances will be at 7 p.m., Dec. 6-8.

The third and final play of the year will be, "Little Shop of Horrors."

Mobley said this would be the annual musical.

"Little Shop of Horrors," tells the story of a florist shop owner who raises a plant that feeds on human flesh and blood.

The music features a mixture of Rock-n-Roll, doo-wop and Motown.

The curtain will go up at 7 p.m. April 18-20 and April 25-27.

It is a good variety," Mobley said of the three plays

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Season passes are available at the gate. Prices are $25 for adults $20 for seniors $15 for students.

All proceeds go back into the theatre program to fund future shows.

"We sustain ourselves," Mobley said. "We don’t get a budget from the school. We make our own.