Stage-based Night Comes Early at Blue Slipper
The Blue Slipper Theatre’s stage production of fast-paced farce Night Comes Early opens Friday, August 17th and runs through September 2nd. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm, with Sunday matinees to follow at 3pm. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $10 for youth.
The director of the Moon Lake Community Theater, Missy Bailey, has dreamed about directing a production of a 1930s psychological melodrama called “Night Comes Early.”
As a teenager she saw a professional production of the play and it had a lasting impact. Now that the opportunity has come, she encounters overwhelming obstacles: cast members who don’t know their lines, who drop out at the last minute, who have psychological issues, and workmen who can’t finish building the set.
No one is ready on opening night, but the show must go on, even without enough actors to fill the roles. Actors constantly switch costumes and roles and the workmen continue to work on the set during the performance. It’s an absolute mess, but the audience seems to be growing as the show continues, with viral videos fueling an internet sensation.
Far from a melodrama, Night Comes Early is a fast-paced farce that shows the anxiety of a director attempting to mount a production of a play that is way beyond the capabilities of her cast and crew. The Blue Slipper production of Burton Bumgarner’s comedy is directed by Kory Gunderson. Audiences will roll in the aisles watching the mayhem and ingenuity of a hodgepodge but well meaning theater team as they mount the most challenging show they’ve ever produced!
Now in its 55th year, the Blue Slipper Theatre is the oldest consecutively operating community theater in Montana. Located in the heart of Livingston’s historic downtown district, the theatre produces four or five full-length productions each season, with a variety of comedic and dramatic selections included in the annual lineup. The Blue Slipper hosts touring productions, music, and comedy throughout the year, and offers a holiday variety program to the public free of charge. The Blue Slipper also sponsors a Kids Playwriting Festival in the spring to give area students the opportunity to write, direct, and star in their own plays.
The Blue Slipper Theatre is located at 113 E Callender St. in Livingston. For tickets or more information, call (406) 222-7720 or visit www.blueslipper.com. •
