Burlap sacks, propeller hats, parrots on shoulders and even a mime crossed the stage this weekend at Memorial Auditorium.
From Dec. 2-4, Act V performed the play “Check Please.” The play follows a man, played by Will Ayars, and woman, played by Paige Henne, as they wade through the dating world. Neither of the main characters are given names the entire time, adding to the relatability of how crazy the dating world can be.
Three acts tell a story of how these two people meet, fall in love, fall out and then fall back in again. Each act is littered with blind dates and the occasional glimpse into the man and woman’s personal lives. The audience gets to watch the two best friends fall in love and even get married, which only adds to the insane situations the man and woman get into on the dates.
Members of the audience could not contain their laughter or horror at certain points. One scene was of a woman and a man, seeming to get along very well, laughing and finding out so many good things, until they realized they were cousins. The audience watched in horror and laughter as the scene unfolded.
Several cast members played different roles, adding to the absurdity of what the play offers. Sydney Thrope seemed to play some of the most outrageous roles, such as a woman with multiple personality disorder and an over-the-top Latin lover. She seemed to get most of the laughs, using her body to accentuate how crazy some of the situations were.
Jasmine Newland seemed to play more understated roles, such as a kleptomaniac and a woman who could not speak English. While she was quieter than Thrope, Newland had an innocent charm that captivated the audience.
Another charm of the play was that six out of the seven cast members were female. This meant many of the women solely played men’s roles. The audience did not seem to care, but it only added to the craziness of the play.
“It was lots of fun,” Henne said after the play. “I really liked the cast and staff.”
The director of the play, Casey Leming, said she was so excited and so happy with how the play turned out.
“I’m super thankful for everyone that came out,” Leming said.
Leming also said many of the adaptations she saw were only one or two acts instead of all three. She said it was ambitious but worth it.
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