THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 21, 1995 TAG: 9509200184
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GATESVILLE LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
You know about dinner theater. Well, the innovative Gates County High School Playmakers are offering picnic theater this weekend.
Don't worry about a rain-out. It's indoors - on the floor of the Performing Arts Building.
The menu features fried chicken, potato salad, lemonade and ``The Invention.''
The Playmakers' production is for children, some of whom will be called onstage, from Friday through Sunday. The initial performance is theater only, but the other two feature the food.
The play is the story of three fun merchants who build an invention that brings happiness to children, said Barbara Toti, Theater Arts teacher. Kalibad, the evil one, wants to stop them.
Angela Harrell portrays that evil one. Others in the cast, Playmakers productions veterans, are Denise Gaylor, Tara Owney, Danielle Green and Mary Beth Hudgins.
Also appearing will be some audience members. ``They'll be picked to come onstage to help fight the bad guy,'' said Toti.
She has been presenting high school dinner theater for four years, pronouncing it ``really successful.''
The Playmakers also offer adult presentations. Oscar Wilde's ``The Importance of Being Earnest'' will run from Nov. 10 to 12. MEMO: ``The Invention'' is at 7:30 p.m. Friday (play only); 6:30 p.m. Saturday
(meal) and 12:30 p.m. Sunday (meal) in the Performing Arts Building,
Gates County High. Tickets are $3 in advance, $4 at door Sept. 22.
Dinner theater reservations are $8 in advance for adults, $5 for
children. Tickets are available from cast members or by calling the
school, 357-0720. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Denise Gaylor, left, and Tara Owney star in ``The Invention'' at
Gates County High School this weekend.
by CNB