” I CAN’T Pay the Rent! You MUST pay the rent! I’LL pay the rent! My hero!”

The Auburn Middle School Drama Club presents “Adrift in New York” by Addison Augler. This is an old style, 1890s melodrama, so for those of you who like music and comedies, this is your kind of play and if you don’t know what a melodrama is, well, it is a play that has a live pianist who plays throughout the show and introduces the entrances of the evil villain, the dashing hero, and the sweet damsel in distress. Nate Fairchild, a sophomore at ELHS, will be playing the piano.

Jack Merriwell (Camden Martin) is our hero, Francis Desmond (Cameron Gelder) is our nasty villain, Nellie Weston (Katie Hummes) is the innocent heroine, Aunt Sarah (Paige Weber) is Nellie’s aunt, Silas Weston (Max Soifer) is Nellie’s father. It all starts out at the old homestead with Nellie and her family, then Nellie goes to the big bad city in New York. There’s an exciting Vaudeville Show right in the middle of Act 2 that has the Magnificent Tumbling Twins, the Bowery Show girls, the Beguiling Geisha, Koko & Pop’s (the clowns) and several excellent singers. Act 3 then comes back to the old homestead where they find a way to foil the villain and live happily ever after.

This is a fun show for the whole family and the audience will be expected to participate in the play! You will need to hoot and holler and cheer when Jack comes out, boo and hiss at the villain, Desmond, or sigh when sweet Nellie makes her entrance. Don’t miss the fun!

“Adrift in New York” is being directed by Liz Rollins with the help of Hannah Martin. Performances will be in the AMS Theater, November 20 through November 22 at 7 p.m. each night and a matinee on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $5 and refreshments will be for sale during the two short intermissions. So we all hope you all come enjoy our play!