Redhound Theatre opens new season Thursday

Corbin High School’s Redhound Theatre will open its season Thursday night, and it will be with a laugh.

Breaking with the recent tradition of opening the season with a drama, CHS Theatre Director Rebecca Liford-Hibbard said the students would bring Brandon Thomas’ classic farce, “Charley’s Aunt,” to the stage at the Betty Hamilton Center for the Performing Arts.

Hibbard explained that the play, set in 1894 Brittan, tells the story of two Oxford University students, Charley and Stephen, who want to propose to their lovely ladies.

However, a chaperone must be present in order for them to do so.

“The solution comes in the form of Charley’s aunt, a millionaire who he has never met, but who is coming for a visit and will work as a proper chaperone,” Hibbard explained

When the aunt fails to show, Charley and Stephen turn to plan B, which involves convincing their friend Lord Fancourt Babberly to put on a dress and pretend to be the aunt so they may make their proposals.

Adding to the intrigue is Uncle Stephen Spettigue, who is infatuated with and pursues the dress-wearing Babberly he believes to be Donna Lucia.

“It is a good time,” Hibbard said of the hour-and-a-half production.

“I stage managed and assistant directed this play at Union College so it is near and dear to my heart,” Hibbard said.

Hibbard said while drama is more intense, performing comedy is actually harder.

“Everyone has their own sense of humor, so it is a lot harder to capture the audience,” Hibbard said.

“We are fortunate to have so many actors with great comedic timing,” Hibbard added.

In addition, Hibbard announced that Redhound Theatre would not be participating in the Kentucky Theatre Association competition this year.

“It has been wonderful and we have been successful but we are going to be focusing on other things this year,” Hibbard said.

Redhound Theatre will participate in the Kentucky Thespian Festival.

The two-day event scheduled for November 3 and 4 in Owensboro.

In addition, the students will participate in the English-Speaking Union of the United States’ Kentucky Shakespeare Competition.

Hibbard said Redhound Theatre has been invited to New York City in March to perform in a medley of musical theatre on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid.

Hibbard said Redhound Theatre would stay in the comedy realm the entire season, bringing “Elf the Musical,” to the stage in December and “The Addams Family” in April.

While “Elf” follows the plot of the Will Ferrell movie, Hibbard said “The Addams Family” is a combination of the TV series and the hit movies.

The story is thatWednesday Addams has returned home with news that she is getting married. How will the ghoulish family react when they learn that Wednesday’s fiancé is normal and Gomez and Morticia meet him and his parents?

“Charley’s Aunt” will run Thursday through Saturday with performances at 7 p.m. each day.

“Elf the Musical” will run November 30 through December 2 and December 7-9.

The Addams Family will run April 19-21 and 26-28.

More information is available on Redhound Theatre’s Facebook page.