BETHEL — “Thank You and Good Night,” an original play, will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19, at the Gould Academy McLaughlin Auditorium.

The play introduces the audience to the Senior College Players as they’ve never been seen before. 

“During the past 10 years we’ve appeared as various characters in plays, but we’ve never played ourselves,” said Ross Timberlake, writer/director. “We’ll not only face the challenge of playing ourselves, but we’ll also face another challenge as we get into character in a number of ‘skits.’ These skits, or vignettes, taken from a number of favorite plays, are interwoven throughout the play.”

Timberlake wrote and directed the play in a unique format to highlight and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the players. Jack Kuchta assists as facilitator.

Timberlake acknowledges that the entire cast served as the production team, offering solid ideas, and their interest and enthusiasm has added to the play. He said there will be a few surprises.

The play is about a Radio Theater (WMSC) that is given the mandate to become a live TV show and the readers are called on to act. Then the fun begins.

Narrators Jim McLean and Rosabelle Tifft, soon to be TV anchors, announce the vignettes in the midst of humorous banter as cast members slip in and possibly out of character.

“Postcards from Sicily” by Jules Tasca features Carol and Ross Timberlake as a husband and wife traveling through Sicily, where they both show very different opinions about their wild adventures.

“What’s on TV” finds McLean challenged by the TV remote, and changing channels to the delight of the audience as Roberta Taylor, Arita Zitoli, Barb Dion and Tifft turn their commentary into a hilarious show.

In “Cornbread and Beans” by Earl Reinn, Tineke and Norman Milliard appear as two very different people on a blind date.

Carole Campbell replays her popular role as a mime in “The Essence of Mature Spirituality” by Patricia Puckett and Douglas Hill.

“A Little Something for the Ducks” features Mark Antell as a depressed elderly gentleman who thinks he has nothing to live for. A caring elderly woman, played by Lorrie Hoeh, offers hope that better days are coming.

“The Challenge of Bureaucracy” by Carole Glickfield shows a frustrated elderly woman, played by Tifft, dealing with three government officials in a dispute over her lost Social Security check. Officials are played by McCartney, Dion and Antell.

Two ditsy women, played by Carole Timberlake and Tineke Ouwinga, hold up a bank so they can get a date with the bank manager, played by Tim LeConey, in “Creative Dating” by Samuel French. Caught in the confusion are McCartney, bank teller, and customers Antell, Dion and Zitoli.

“The Trial of Goldilocks” by Samuel French presents a different twist to this traditional story and features Milliard as Goldilocks who steals the show from Mama Bear, Carole Timberlake; Papa Bear, Kuchta; and Baby Bear, Zitoli. Ouwinga plays the narrator.

In the closing scene, cast members are still debating live TV versus radio and arrive at an unexpected conclusion. Timberlake said the show demonstrates the dedication and talents of the thespians as the play brings them together with a broader meaning.

Western Mountains Senior College offers Senior College Players as a course, open to anyone age 50 and older. After 10 years, most players are veteran thespians who have been with the troupe for years and are able to assist in production.

Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. Intermission will include cookies and treats in the lobby.

FMI: 207-364-3137.