The set is from the 1960s, but most of the cast will be familiar when Crowder College Community Theatre presents, “The Odd Couple,” beginning Thursday, June 25.
The community play presented an open casting call to people who wanted their chance at the stage, and many of those who responded are involved with Crowder in some way. There are a few alumni, a few instructors, students and Doug Schachtner.
“In the daytime my alter ego is a cell phone salesman,” Schachtner said. “In the night time, I’m Vinnie.”
At work, he was talking with co-workers about things they’ve always wanted to do, but never started and Schachtner mentioned he wanted to be in theatre. His boss put him in touch with Crowder and he drives from Joplin to rehearse with the group. After he auditioned, he was surprised to get the call.
“I was like ‘wow, first time out,’” he said.
Shirley Gollhofer directs the production. She’s been house manager at Crowder for years, and during the school year she teaches at Diamond, but working with adults on a play written for adults is a change. She said she has always wanted to direct this play.
“Obviously it’s about relationships,” Gollhofer said. “Felix is this obsessive/compulsive type person and Oscar is your normal every day slob who cares about people, but is like ‘OK whatever.’”
During the play their characters develop.
“Once they move in together the evolution of the play is how they change each other,” Gollhofer said. “Even though they fight and Oscar gets to the point where he’s ready to hang Felix, he still is changing and vice versa.”
Drew Fethers plays Felix and co-worker JP Dickey plays Oscar.
“We talked about doing this play for several years now, and we just happened to fit it in,” Fethers said.
Working with Dickey gives him the chance to work with someone he knows well.
“We work together every day,” Fethers said. “This is just two good friends in life and two good friends on stage.”
“It’s a great script and I’ve always wanted to be in it,” Dickey said. “Especially as a chance to work with Drew and work with Shirley, I just couldn’t pass up that opportunity.”
Jeff Garrett, art instructor at Crowder, plays the role of Murray the cop.
Garrett had always had an interest in theatre and thought he’d take a chance at a role in the
summer play.
“I totally underestimated the amount of work that’s involved,” Garrett said.
What goes on behind the scenes is a big part of what he found.
“It’s almost magical the way it all comes together,” he said. “It’s a lot of hard work.”
He and Schachtner – the other rookie – both agree that even though it was a lot of work, it’s been a fun experience.
“It was a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to be,” Schachtner said. “I thought ‘I can
memorize lines, that’s easy. I can do that.’ You show up and you get little notes – you’ve got to remember your cue lines, too.”
His lines, cue lines, reactions — he’d do it again in a heartbeat, but acting in the production has given him a new appreciation for the theatre.
“I have a totally different view on it,” he said.
Cast members include: JP Dickey, Drew Fethers, Jeff Garrett, Joe McNary, Tasha O'Brien, Doug
Schachtner, Justin Stewart and Sophia Tyndall. Production crew members are: Travis
Christensen, Drew Fethers, Shirley Gollhofer and Brandi Graber.
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WANT TO GO?
Tickets are $3 for Crowder staff and students, $4 for students and seniors and $6 for general admission. Tickets are available at the door and doors open at 7 p.m.
The play runs nightly at 7:30 p.m. from June 25-27 in the Elsie Plaster Theater. A 2 p.m. matinee will play on June 27.
Neosho, Mo. —
