ARCHBOLD WEATHER

“Captain’s Outrageous” A Comedy That Taps Into Serious Emotions




“Captain’s Outrageous,” the next Archbold Community Theatre production, is called a silly comedy that taps into serious emotions.

The play was written in 1980 when Baltimore actor David DeBoy felt he could write a better comedy than the sub-par script he had been given.

While there is silliness, family wounds are opened, secrets are revealed, courage is found in unlikely places, and even the most harsh characters smile.

Bill Phelps, Archbold, an ACT veteran, is Captain O’Michaels, a bored geriatric patient confined to a hospital room. O’Michaels entertains himself with pranks on the staff when Oliver, a wealthy and demanding bread manufacturer moves in.

Oliver is played by Randy Rohrs, Ridgeville Corners, another ACT veteran. After one of the Captain’s pranks goes wrong and Oliver is injured, Oliver calls his lawyer, Sean, played by Paul Spencer, Defiance.

Sean is not only the Captain’s estranged son, but he also is the ex-boyfriend of the captain’s lawyer, Bobbi, who is played by Angelina Sorge, Wauseon.

Dr. Windover, played by David Stuckey, Stryker, is somewhat oblivious, confusing the Captain with another patient. He tries to smooth over the unpleasantness caused by the Captain.

Amid all this is the Nurse, played by Crissi Stuckey, Stryker. She is tasked with caring for the Captain, and finds no humor in his antics.

Second Time

It is the second time ACT has performed “Captain’s Outrageous.” The first production was in 1994.

In that production, Phelps was Dr. Windover and Bobbi was played by Bill’s wife Diane.

Directors

“Captain’s Outrageous” is directed by Steve Van Sickle, Archbold, with Sorge as the assistant director.

Sorge heaped praise on B. Phelps, saying the play “was written for him.

“Bill has a great sense of comedic timing. He was my first choice for the role when I first read the play, and I can’t imagine anyone else as the Captain.”

“I love working with the small cast of six,” Van Sickle said. “The group gets along great. I’ve seen tremendous improvement with each rehearsal.

“Everyone in the cast has worked really hard to learn their lines… and learn to play the trumpet!

“The show is going to be absolutely hilarious.”

ACT presents “Captain’s Outrageous,” Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24, 30- Oct. 1, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, Oct. 2, 2:30 pm, at Giffey Hall in the Ridgeville Corners theatre district.



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