Mississippi Mudds to Present "High School Reunion"

March 18th 2010

Melissa McIntosh spends a lot of time planning for Prom night these days. By day the CPHS grade 12 student is on this year’s prom committee. And on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings she can be found at the Carleton Place town hall, excitedly planning a fictional prom, circa 1950s or 60s. McIntosh plays the teenage Dianna in Act One of the Mississippi Mudds new musical High School Reunion opening on April 23^rd.

Flash the story forward 20 years or so and we find an adult Dianna played by Leigh Gibson, in real life a graduate of CPHS and now working in Carleton Place in two family focused administrative positions. In her role as the adult Dianna she is nervously and reluctantly planning to attend that High School Reunion.

Gibson and McIntosh agree that the clever and amusing script will strike a chord with many in the audience. They think anyone who has ever been in senior year at high school will recognize character types, maybe even themselves, in the story’s three principal characters. But for both these cast members in Jeannie Bright’s newest musical review - she brought us Canajun Eh and Comrades In Arms) – the best thing about all this is the great songs.

In act one, numbers like Bobbies Girl, Donna, Little Town Flirt, At The Hop, Summertime Blues and School Days tell of teenage loves, dreams, gossip and friendships. In act two we learn how the intervening years have shaped those teenage expectations, attitudes and relationships. All the characters have moved on, often in surprising ways but when they meet again it is to revive friendship, love and camaraderie with such songs as Son Of A Preacher man, La Bamba, A White Sports Coat and Save The last Dance For Me.

This new musical follows a fine Mudds tradition of excellent full-chorus renditions of popular songs. This time the music is laced together with a light hearted story, bound to revive memories but that also manages to touch gently on some social issues. With all that wonderful music from the 50’s and 60’s it is sure to put a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

Tickets for High School Reunion, a Mudds Original Musical go on sale on March 12^th at Arts Carleton Place Gallery and Information Centre — 132 Coleman Street (Old RR Station). The centre is open Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM, Sat & Sun 11 AM - 4 PM or Call 613 257 2031 for tickets.

All shows take place at the Carleton Place Town Hall. With evening show tickets at $20 and the matinee at $15 you have 5 show times to choose from; April 23, 24, 30 and May 1 at 8 p.m. with one matinee on April 24 at 2p.m.

Don’t forget there may still be tickets available for Death Of A Doornail, the Murder Mystery dinner theatre at the Heritage Inn on March 19^th and 20^th. Call the Inn at 613 257 2525 or visit www.mississippimudds.ca for more information on these and other productions.