November 1, 2021
The Mayville State University Theatre Department will present “Insane With Power” by Scott Haan in performances scheduled for Nov. 18-21 in Mayville State’s Old Main Theatre. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 18, 19, and 20 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21. The Old Main Theatre is located on the second floor of Old Main, 330 Third Street NE, Mayville, N.D. All seats are $10 and tickets will be sold at the door.
The play’s storyline is headlined with Lois Lancaster, a big city journalist who is writing about the current state of mental health facilities. Her research takes her to a hospital populated with a unique group of quirky patients who imagine they are crime-fighting superheroes.
Speed Freak thinks he can run at incredible speeds, while Dim Bulb, who is extremely enthusiastic, thinks he has the ability to turn off lights with his brain. Mental thinks she can read minds, despite being prone to sudden outbursts of bizarre non-sequiturs. Kevin, who is much less quirky and flamboyant than the others, doesn’t embarrass himself with a ridiculous code name or costume … at least not initially. Dr. Gail Eisner, the hospital administrator, appears to be kind, a stead influence needed to run a madhouse such as this.
A first Lois Lancaster finds the elaborate superhero fantasies to be an entertaining diversion, the wild delusions of unstable minds, until something unusual, something that makes her wonder, happens.
The theater department is inviting high school students who are interested in finding out more about the opportunities at Mayville State to attend meet and greet opportunities with the cast and crew prior to each of the performances. Refreshments will be provided. Meet and greets will begin at 6 p.m. on the days of evening performances. The Sunday meet and greet will begin at 12:30 p.m. To find out more, contact Bob Sylskar at robert.sylskar@mayvillestate.edu.
Two separate casts will be performing “Insane With Power.” The Madhouse cast will take the stage on Nov. 18 and 20. The Funny Farm cast will perform on Nov. 19 and 21.
The Madhouse cast includes Phillip Maritato, Devils Lake, N.D., as Speed Freak; Maisy Skalicky, East Grand Forks, Minn., as Lois Lancaster; Katelyn Johnson, Grand Forks, N.D., as Dr. Gail Eisner; Riley Wass, Devils Lake, N.D., as Dim Bulb; Anyssa Berger, Portland, N.D., as Mental; and Rebecca Sauvageau, Gilby, N.D., as Kevin Bendis.
Members of the Funny Farm cast are Paul Whitaker, Mayville, N.D., as Speed Freak; Veronica Miller, Kindred, N.D., as Lois Lancaster; Emily Roehrich, Mayville, N.D., as Dr. Gail Eisner; Natasha Abentroth, Cummings, N.D., as Dim Bulb; Payton Doerksen, Sperling, Manitoba, as Mental; and Roy Morsette, Golden Valley, N.D., as Kevin Bendis.