Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
O. Henry holiday double feature on Harstine
Lt. Thwackbusher (Monty Cobb) and a woman with an umbrella (Liz Brunner) have a confusing encounter in "The Cop and the Anthem," one of two O. Henry short stories presented in a holiday show by the Harstine Island Theatre Club Dec. 1-3 at the Harstine Island Community Club.
For its annual holiday production, The Harstine Island Theatre Club is bringing to life two O. Henry short stories - "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Cop and the Anthem" - at 7 p.m. Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 at the Harstine Island Community Club.
Admission is free. For the third time, Pam Mueller is directing the group's holiday play. She also directed "Velveteen Rabbit" and last December, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."
"The Gift of the Magi" is one of O. Henry's most beloved short stories and reminds us that the greatest gifts come out of love, even when that means sacrifice. Lucinda Wiita tells the story of "The Gift of the Magi."
"I love the sacrifice (the characters) give, the genuine love for each other and the heart of the story," Mueller said.
"The Cop and the Anthem" begins with the arrival of winter in New York City. It Thwackbusher decides he must leave his bench in Madison Square Park and get himself arrested so he will be taken to Blackwell's Island, where he will be given a warm place to sleep during the winter. Getting arrested proves to be harder than he expected.
Mueller said she remembers as a child seeing comedian Red Skelton performing a version of the tale on TV. "And I knew just the actor to play the part," she said.
That actor is Monty Cobb, a veteran member of the group and also a judge. It turns out Cobb also has a connection to the TV version of the story: his mother is a huge Skelton fan who owns and continues to display one of the comedian's clown paintings, Cobb said.
The cast of "The Cop and the Anthem" also includes Amy Byykkonen, Barb Hubbard, Becca Byykkonen, Mike Benson, Gracie Pierce, Sadie Pierce, Rody Myers, Lyra Freeman, Etta Freeman, Liz Brunner, Sheryl Fellman and Dee Ann Meacham.
Mueller pointed out the offstage contributions of Steve Andrews, Greg Fellman, Anne Strathairn, Jeannine Sturtevant, Wendy Cobb and David Mueller.
"The show is excellent, but what makes it over-the-top excellent is the tech people," she said.
The shows are dedicated to the memory of Bob Helm, one of the group's veterans, who died on Sept. 5.
IF YOU GO
WHO: Harstine Island Theatre Club
WHAT: O. Henry short stories "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Cop and the Anthem"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3
WHERE: Harstine Island Community Club, 3371 E. Harstine Island Road
ADMISSION: Free
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