Students at Silverado Highs School practice for the upcoming performance of “Li’l Abner,” a comedic satire that pokes fun at the government.
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 | midnight
Jessica Welch, left, playing the part of Daisy May, and Kyle Meyer, playing the part of Li'l Abner, run through their lines during practice for the performance of, "Li'l Abner," at Silverado High School.
After weeks of being engulfed by campaign ads and speeches and having to make serious decisions about who to vote for, Silverado High School's drama department is giving residents the chance to blow off a little political steam.
In the days following the election, the school will present "Li'l Abner," a comedic satire that, among other things, pokes fun at the government.
The play begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Nov. 13-15.
Tickets, which may be purchased at the school's box office the night of the event, are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $5 for children younger than 12.
Drama teacher Joy Demain said the play, a musical based on the comic strip Li'l Abner by Al Capp, is great because it's funny and politically appropriate.
"The characters are so vibrant and they're comical," she said. "It's a really happy show."
Despite the play having been written more than 50 years ago, the theme still rings true.
Demain said some of the highlights of the show are songs that feature lyrics such as, "The Treasury says the national debt is climbing to the sky and government expenditures have never been so high," (from the song "The Country's in the Very Best of Hands'') and, "Wall Street is the worst of the lot. How can you break the market? How?" (from the song "Progress is the Root of All Evil'').
"Our show opens two days after the election. This is going to zing people and people will be able to get what the song is ... about just because of everything that's going on," Demain said.
Demain said about 50 students will perform in the production and 15 to 20 students will work backstage.
The students cast as the main characters include: Kyle Meyer as Abner Yokum, Jessica Welch as Daisy Mae, Jessica Phillips as Mammy Yokum, Dallin Jenkins as Marryin' Sam, Alex Weiner as Earthquake McGoon, Estevan Carrillo and Griffin Fox as General Bullmose, Jamilla Webb as Appassionala Von Climax, Zachary Stern as Pappy Yokum, Ace Gilliam as Dr. Finsdale, Gwaylon Leaf as Evil Eye Fleagle and Daniel Kominek as Romeo Scragg.
Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].
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