Lunacy, crazy props make literature fun

PARK HILLS — Graduation is in an hour and 45 minutes and the entire audience must pass a Western Literature class before they can graduate.

Unfortunately, the literature teacher has been trampled to death at a Dan Brown book signing.

Lucky for them, Coach and the theater professor, with the help of a student teacher, have agreed to teach the course, condensing 86 of literature’s greatest into 90 minutes.

Rick Giles said “All the Great Books (abridged)” is 90 minutes of lunacy and constant costume changes with the craziest props that can possibly be found.

The play will be performed in the Mineral Area College Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-21. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the MAC Bookstore. Tickets are $7 for general admission or $3 for senior citizens or MAC students with an ID. Giles said half of the tickets have already been sold.

Giles said the play is by the same guys who wrote “The Complete History of America (abridged).”

Giles plays the ditsy and overly excitable professor. Brian Kelley of Desloge plays the politically correct student teacher, Brian. Tony Caruthers of Farmington plays the “hot head,” book-smart Coach.

Coach and the professor attempt to do Don Quixote in the original Spanish with Brian translating.

Kelley said it’s a fun and interacting play. He hopes the audience interacts with them. They also translate the Greek Iliad and the Odyssey to a version called the Idiotity.

Giles said pretty much everyone is in a wig or a skirt at one point. He said it’s funny whether people know the books or not.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.