Dead bodies appear, then disappear, as teams of thieves converge on an isolated house to steal a stash of jewels.
Sounds like a farce, all right.
Historic Everett Theatre’s Outcast Players, which put on “Farce of Habit” last year, will present Fred Carmichael’s 1961 three-act play “Exit the Body” July 25-28, Aug. 1-4, Aug. 8 and Aug. 10-11.
Physical comedy, absurd situations and zany characters are at the heart of the play, said Sam Samano, who co-directs the play with Laura Shriner.
“I like the fun and physicality of it,” she said. “It keeps you on your toes, both as an audience member and as an actor.”
The story is set in the 1960s. Crane Hammond (Shriner) is a successful mystery writer who decides to take a week off before penning her next book. She rents a New England house and arrives with her abrasive secretary, Kate Bixley, (Samano). She soon discovers the homeowner has died in a car crash.
Turns out the man was a fence (someone who sells stolen goods). After his death, word spreads that he has jewels hidden somewhere on the property. Like sharks attracted to blood, thieves show up to hunt for riches.
But they’re not professional jewel thieves by any means — they’re greedy locals.
They include Jenny (Yvonne Williams), an incompetent housekeeper; Randolph (Johnny Patchamtlata), a petty crook; Helen O’Toole (Iris Lilly), a quirky real estate agent; Lillian Seymour (Vicki Maxey), a well-to-do fashion designer; Lyle Rogers (Ric Calhoun), Lillian’s husband; and Vernon Cookley (Curt Shriner), who is the small town’s sheriff, taxi driver, dog catcher, sexton and justice of the peace.
Also in the cast are Phillip Smith (Pat Reagan), who suffers from amnesia, and Richard Hammond (Richard Morris), Crane’s husband.
Unaware of each other, the thieves bumble around in the dark looking for the diamonds.
“There’s a lot of movement where someone is coming in and someone is going out and not seeing each other, which is a lot of fun,” Curt Shriner said. “It’s a lot of crazy things happening all at once.”
The focal point of the set is a closet that opens into a living room and a library — allowing for the door-slamming entrances and exits that are a staple of the farce genre.
Evan Thompson: 425-339-3427, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @ByEvanThompson.
If you go
The Outcast Players present “Exit the Body” July 25-28, Aug. 1-4, Aug. 8 and Aug. 10-11 at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett. Thursday shows are at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $12-$15. Call 425-258-6766 or go to www.yourhet.org for more information.
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