Community theater play opening Friday

WASHINGTON — The Washington Community Theater will debut its performance of “All Because of Agatha” Friday, Oct. 14, just in time for Halloween season.

The comedy features a young couple that moves to a home in Salem, Massachusetts, even after their real estate agent informs them of its annual haunting by a witch named Agatha Forbes who died on the same ground.

“In fact, the wife of the couple is just excited that she’s going to meet a witch,” Director Lynn Loula said. “They decide to have a party on the night that Agatha is expected, so you have this group of people gathered and between Agatha and a lady who is a medium that tries to circumvent what the witch is doing, it’s all pretty funny.”

Loula said the cast and crew had six weeks of rehearsals to prepare, along with four Saturdays spent building the set.

The show has all sorts of challenges for the performers, including a variety of supernatural effects and a spell cast by Agatha that reverses many other characters’ personalities.

“(It) makes some of them the absolute opposite of their usual nature,” Loula said. “That was what attracted me to the play, the idea that those actors would be one character, and then when they got the spell cast on them, they would act differently. It’s a real challenge for the actors, and they’re just doing a great job.”

Despite the quick turnaround from auditions to opening night, Loula said she was excited about the show.

“I think the audience will have a lot of fun with it,” she said. “There’s a lot of laughs, it looks good, as usual Lisa Hughes did a great job with the costumes, and as we get the sound effects and light cues firm, it’s really going to be fun. I’m excited.”

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for students up through high school. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14, 15, 21 and 22, and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Washington Community Theater.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com