Dinner Theatre Fundraiser Benefits Musselshell School

By Adair Rademacher

It is the pleasure of Friends of Musselshell School, Inc. and the Illustrious Musselshell Players to present to you, their faithful patrons, "The Boardinghouse." This frantic, fun family comedy written by Vern Harden is being staged at the Musselshell School for two evenings of dinner theatre performances and a matinee. Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, a three-course sit-down dinner and then the theatre performance will commence immediately after dinner. The cast will return Sunday, September 29 for a matinee performance.

Beginning at 5:30 each evening guests are seated on the main floor by cast members. A glamorous version of boardinghouse fare will be served, beginning with iced tea and/or coffee. The first course will be shredded cabbage and vegetables adorned with Maureen Rademacher's Sportsman Bar specialty coleslaw dressing. The main course will feature a country style pork rib with a light sweet and sour glaze; "out of the skin" twice-baked potatoes, seasoned green beans with slivered almonds, and a homemade Hawaiian roll. Dessert will be a scoop of ice cream with snickerdoodle cookies on the side.

Directly following dinner, the audience will retire to the upstairs auditorium to join the Illustrious Musselshell Players at the 'Home Sweet Home Boardinghouse.' Miss Harriet, the proprietor, manages her peculiar guests with the help of the none-too bright and perpetually terrified new maid Tweenie. When mysterious Dirk Shadow and his sister, Veronica, arrive at the boarding house, chaos erupts. Many of the eccentric boarders join the frantic search for Captain Schnook's buried treasure.

During the production, you will experience a touch of the eerie with the psychic taxidermist, do your best to restrain yourself not to fall under the spell during an amazing hypnosis scene, you will need to beware of the countless illnesses spontaneously manifesting, and savor the catchy lines of the would–be poet. All the while those on stage do their best to dodge the free-spirited painter since one never knows where that paint might actually land and watch out for Dr. Sni-fell with his bag of remedies.

The 10-member cast consists of Harriet (Silvia Metzger); Tweenie (Virginia Carlson); Mr. Richards (Ralph Goffena); Martha Willis (Norma Trent); Dirk Shadow (Ken Eickhoff); Veronica Shadow (Sherie Milburn); Gladys Klotz (Melissa Carlson); Hortense (Joanie Rettig); Ivy (Nan Rademacher); Dr Sni-fell (Lynn Rettig); Prompting (Teresa Porter); and Photography promotion (Sandy Vongries).

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE DINNER THEATRE. The cost is $25.00 per person for dinner and theatre performance. Reserve your seat today by calling 406-947-5200. If there is no answer, leave a detailed message. All messages will receive a return call. Seating is limited and tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis.

No reservations are required to attend the Sunday matinee. The cost of the matinee is $10.00 per person (preschool free). The curtain goes up promptly at 2 pm. Coffee and cookies are served in the main hall after the matinee.

You will definitely want to join the cast and crew for this delightful, hilarious family entertainment. This feature is produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Denver, Colorado. All profits generated from this fundraiser are used to operate Musselshell School as a community center.