'Break a Leg' opens Friday

Theatergoers know that saying "good luck" to an actor or actress could get you in a heap of trouble, but they may not know that whistling is equally as bad.

"Break a Leg," a farce written by Eddie McPherson, will introduce audiences to a whole host of theatre superstitions when the Bigfork Community Players open the show this weekend.

The play features a new stage manager, Trudy, who is a jinx to the theatre that the cast works to de-hex throughout the show.

The process of putting on the show has been a bit "lumpy," player Jeanie Fischer said. Do a play about superstitions and bad luck and just about anything and everything happens, she said.

Fischer herself knew quite a few of the superstitions featured in the play, but some sent her searching for answers. She turned to the Internet and put together a packet for the cast members.

One she found most interesting was that to say "Macbeth" or to even quote it is considered bad luck. To refer to the play, actors are encouraged to say "The Scottish Play."

If it is uttered, the offending actor must say "Angels and ministers of grace defend us' and leave the house, turn clockwise three times, swear and knock to be readmitted.

Fischer, who is the secretary for the board, makes a small appearance toward the end of the play, which can't be revealed without giving some of the plot away, she said.

Just like the main character Trudy is new to the theatre scene, so are several of the people involved in this production. The players pride themselves in welcoming people who've never been in a play or even near a stage before.

That's certainly true with this show.

"We just encourage people to come play with us and see if they like it," Fischer said.

Directors and more experienced cast members take those who are new under their wings and give them guidance and encouragement, Fischer said.

This time it's also the director who is fairly new to the scene. This is the second play Erin Flores has directed. Her first took place with the players earlier this year in their production of "Christmas Belles."

Another director had to pull out and Flores, who has been in numerous theatre productions, particularly at Flathead Valley Community College, stepped up and expressed an interested, Fischer said.

"We said we'd give her a chance. There's no better place than here," Fischer said.

The show opens Friday, April 16, and runs at 8 p.m. that night as well as April 17, 23 and 24. A matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. April 25.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students under 12. They are available at Bigfork Drug, Kalispell Grand Hotel and Sliter's Ace Hardware in Somers.

"People should come because it's a fun thing to do," Fischer said. "There's just nothing like live theatre. It's never the same twice."

"Break a Leg" will conclude the players' 2009-2010 season.

This year was a recovery year for the players, who were not able to perform at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts last year as it underwent its lobby renovations. With costs of using the theatre going up, they're always looking for sponsors., Fischer said.