Submitted
Hays High School’s production of “Daddy’s Girl” serves up a full menu of laughs when it takes the stage at 7 p.m. on March 7-9 at 12th Street Auditorium.
The play centers around Benard Muloovy, owner of Maudie’s Diner, who gets served a plate of comic chaos when his deceased wife, Maudie, takes up residence in a painting on the wall of the Kansas City eatery. Maudie enlists the services of an angel, Michael, to reunite Bernard with their long-lost daughter, Elizabeth.
True to his mischievous nature, Michael delivers two Elizabeths, and Benard’s task is to decide which young woman is his real daughter. The play comes fully seasoned with a host of zany characters and features a few twists and turns on its way to a heartwarming conclusion.
The two-act show spreads a gentle message about the importance of living in the present and appreciating those who enrich our lives.
“Our last two spring plays (“Anne of Green Gables” and “The Curious Savage”) had timelines from the past,” said director Bill Gasper. “The cast suggested that we do something more modern that features some over-the-top comedy and quirky characters. This play certainly fits that description.”
In addition to “Daddy’s Girl,” the evening’s entertainment will include several short, restaurant-related sketches that were added to accommodate more students. Gasper said the “Bon Appétit” sketches are unrelated to “Daddy’s Girl,” although some take place on the main stage.
“As with most non-musical plays, the cast of “Daddy’s Girl” is relatively small,” Gasper said. “My normal practice is to choose the cast and let other students know they were not selected. Generally, it’s not an easy decision and the least favorite thing I do as a director. However, I had some very good auditions this year and decided to provide more students the opportunity to perform on stage.”
Twenty-two students appear on stage, with another five serving various roles behind the scenes.
“This cast is very experienced and very talented,” Gasper said. “It certainly is a privilege to work with students who enjoy theater and who are willing to put in the time and effort to present a quality production,” Gasper said. “I encourage the community to come out and enjoy an evening of light-hearted comedy and excellent student performances.”
General admission tickets are available for $8 at the door or can be purchased at www.ticketsource.us/hays-high-school.
Daddy’s Girl
Cast of Characters
Benard............................................................................ Caleb King
Bob.............................................................................. Calvin Moore
Walter....................................................................... Connor Werth
Maudie................................................................... Elizabeth Noble
Betsy............................................................................... Addy Brull
Michael............................................................................. Atlas Seib
Darlynn...................................................... Jordan Aschenbrenner
E.L.................................................................... Katelyn Willemsen
Alex.............................................................................. Oscar Flores
Daisy............................................................ Alisha Rose Windholz
Violet...................................................................... Clare Tholstrup
Lizzy.......................................................................... Brooke Leiker
Big Earl Ella........................................................... Calliope Green
Bon Appétit Cast
Olivia Pince, Ripley Mills-Kulmala, Riley Flax, Jocelyn Goodspeed, Allison Goertzen, Maddie Meis, Tim Koehn, Kayden Eaton, Juliet Gross