CCT Summer Play Set to Engage Patrons

By Misty Cryer

The talented cast and crew of Carlsbad Community Theatre is back to present a melodramatic comedy by Billy St. John, The Great Ice Cream Scheme or…Robin Baskins to the Rescue.

The memorable characters of this family-friendly play are expected to bring plenty of laughs as the audience cheers the heroes and boos the villains. During intermission, the audience can enjoy an old-fashioned ice cream social. The summer productions serve as a fundraiser for the theatre to support the next season.

Showtimes are the weekends of July 17-19 and July 24-26 at Carlsbad Community Theatre, 4713 National Parks Hwy. Friday and Saturday productions start at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees beginning at 2:30 p.m.

“I have a really good all-star cast,” said Donia Dunlap, director of the shows. “They have just been phenomenal from the get-go,” she said.

When providing the following description of the play, Dunlap said, “It’s horribly corny, but I love it.”

The play is a belly-busting melodrama set in 1900 at an upscale ice cream parlor owned by Pop Sicle (Ash Carrigan). He has a secret recipe that is the main attraction of the scheme, where the villains, I.C. Custard (Zeph Roberson) and his apprentice Parfait Deluxe (Jamie Covington), described by Dunlap as a klutz, try to get their hands on it.

The recipe is also known to Pop’s sister, Nana Peel (Jill Thompson), and to Pop’s adopted son, Robin Baskins (Logan Witt), who turns out to be the hero, with some help from Marsha Mallow (Tessa Folks).

The cast is topped off with the workers, Walt Nutz (Al Tornabene) and Candy Sprinkles (Ashley Sacco). The regular customers are Alec De Spoon (Don Knealing) and Etta Lotta Spumoni (Cheyenne Williams). There is also a character named Ernie (Dan Witwer), who is a stagehand.

The intermission will be extended to about 30 minutes to allow for the ice cream social, Dunlap said.

Traditionally, during the summer, musicals alternating between adult and child casts have been directed by Carolyn Olson and Mannie Bemis to serve as fundraisers for the theatre.

“I have a great deal of admiration and appreciation for Mannie and Carolyn and all that they have put into it over the years. I’ve watched them and trained with them, and I hope I can make them proud,” said Dunlap.

Upon their retirement from directing the summer musicals, Dunlap said, “Carolyn and Mannie came to me because they know that the melodramas that I have directed in the past brought in big audiences, so they were hoping that would help with the fundraising part of it.”

Dunlap said that this year there are no kids in the melodrama cast. “We still intend to offer opportunities for the young talent in our community, and I personally look forward to working with them.”

The production of musicals in the future has not been ruled out, Dunlap said, noting that a new Yamaha piano keyboard was donated to the theatre last year.

“We are in need of musicians and/or those willing to serve as musical directors,” she said, specifying that all work at Carlsbad Community Theatre is done on a volunteer basis.

As a nonprofit organization, Dunlap said, “The summer fundraising productions literally pay the bills (utilities) for the entire season that follows.”

Tickets for the shows are available online (https://www.carlsbadnmtheatre.com/) and at The Blue House Bakery and Café, Angee’s Flowers, and Treasured Moments. If not sold out, they will also be available at the box office prior to each performance.

The new season starts in September with the first production in October, said Dunlap. Upcoming, on August 22 at 6 p.m., she said, “Our Ellienda is planned.” The Ellienda is held annually with Elli Awards presented to honor the volunteer talent and skills for all productions for the season.