Bleak Expectations, a chaotic comedy, will take the stage at 7 p.m. on Sept. 26-27 at 2 p.m. at the North Platte High Performing Arts Center. 

Based on a hit BBC4 radio play, this chaotic caper tells the story of Pip, his family and best friend Harry as they try to survive Victorian England and the “joys” of a Charles Dickens novel.

Imagine giving Great Expectations or Oliver Twist to Monty Python and asking them to retell the tale. That is this show in a nutshell, reviewers say. It’s a bit irreverent, slightly silly, and very funny.

With a cast and crew of more than 40 students, Director Brittany McDaniel and Assistant Director Nicole Cepel have spent the past two months teaching students how to sword fight with baguettes and faint in hoop skirts.

They are also learning how to use the new, state-of-the-art lighting system that was installed in the high school’s theater this summer.

“It is a big show with a large cast and lots of fun props,” McDaniel said. “My shopping history includes a fake rat, feather boas, a fat suit, and a stuffed dog that loses its stuffing. I feel like I spend more time laughing than I do directing at rehearsal some nights.”

While North Platte might be bursting at the seams with activities in September, the slapstick humor, ridiculous antics, and over-the-top silliness of this production is not something to miss. 

There is some PG-13 humor, but all theatergoers will appreciate this ridiculous spin on a collection of timeless classics, organizers say.

General admission is $5. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. for the respective shows.  

© 2024 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved.