On November 13th, the Richwoods theatre will present a double feature play. It consists of two one act shows with completely different plots, time periods, and characters. This show is directed by Mary Keltner, known to be quite “the tech savvy” in the Peoria theater world, and her visions brought these shows to life in many ways. Her creativity is shown through her direction of the blocking, the set, and the sound effects in the play. Even though she has been the theater director at RHS for only a couple of months, she has made a significant impact on the world of performance at Richwoods.
The first act of the show is called “Tough City, Prone to Rain,” a dramatic comedy that flips the script on gender roles within the late 1940s. The show revolves around four main characters: three female detectives and one silly male secretary. They have their own stories but work together to solve a case. The costumes, although in grayscale form, show characterization and detail. Mary Keltner’s creativity can be seen in her vision to have this show in almost complete black and white, almost in comic book form, the set opening to scenes all at the same time. Additionally, her creativity shines through the characters. As she plans their movements, she also allows the actors to have different interpretations for the characters. Wonder how that looks like? Looks like you’d have to come and see!
The second act of the show fast-forwards to modern times. Although it is still set in black and white, the colors bring out an interesting aspect of the show. This act is called “Hollywood’s Worst Screen Tests,” where a tired and overworked casting director has to go through a series of terrible screen tests. This is a really silly comedy, and, with only two different sets, it is a cool contrast from the first act. As an actor myself, working on this show was such a fun time, and was a great way to be introduced to our new director.
“This production has allowed me to grow with my character,” said Kara Hofmann, who plays Rose in Tough City and the Musical Ingenue in Hollywood’s Screen Tests. “The directing staff has really made the theatre into a home where we can feel safe within the walls.”
Showing at 7pm in Richwoods Auditorium November 13-15, this double feature show will be an amazing representation of creativity and performance. Hope you guys will watch and enjoy!
