Michael Soetaert’s madcap comedy “The Dearly Undeparted,” staged Friday and Saturday nights by the PHS Drama Department under the direction of Randy Peterson, seemed long on puns and short on point in spite of strong performances by the lead actors.
The two-hour production at the Perry Performing Arts Center turned on the demented cunning of Pearl Hedgepath, played by junior Jayden Whitney, an elderly widow whose greedy son, Vern Pootsky, played by freshman Justice Moreland, and grasping grandson, Lyle Wanamaker, played by junior Camden Studer, competed with one another in devising ways to trick the old woman out of her property.
Complications arise when Wanamaker seeks the assistance of realtor Allison Beedle, played by freshman Ainsley Marburger, who by chance has harbored an erotic obsession with Wanamaker since childhood. Beedle’s character is by turns mercenary in plotting grandma’s expropriation and idiotic in throwing herself at Wanamaker.
Both Studer and Marburger brought the best out of an essentially weak script, with Marburger in particular showing a commanding stage presence that is promising for future shows. The literal mindedness of Whitney’s character became rather tedious by the third act, but the actor herself was excellent in the part.
PHS junior Madison Mason delivered a solid performance as the fortune-telling con Ooga, whose mercenary motives matched those of most of the other characters. Her staged supernaturalism was apparently a boon to the odd character of Louise Chedarwax, played by sophomore Kaylyn Bousma, and a blight to the scoffing Pootsky.
The company seemed better served script-wise in their recent productions of “Peter Pan” and “Dracula,” but then one cannot always be staging revisions of Victorian and Edwardian classics. Perry-area drama lovers can expect good things from this largely underclass company in future theatrics.
The balance of the cast included Eoin Davis, Adrianna Escalante, Kayla McFarland, Zoe Meyer, Maura Richardson, Bella Nath, Alex Tasler, Trinity Summerson, Claudia Vargas, Bree Martin, Brianna Fields, Kayla McFarland and Chance Hoisington.
Lighting, sound and set were all deftly managed by the stage crew, including the unusual window entries. Crew members included Brianna Fields, Bailey Piper, Alexa Zarate, Chase Archer, Karen Amaya, Justice Moreland, Dakota Strough and Kamryn Whelchel.
