Union College News

Union College Theatre Presents Unhealthy To Be Unpleasant

Murder/mayhem and slapstick comedy do not usually go together. UTBU, the upcoming UC

Angie Armstrong and Danny Nettleton duking it out as mother and son during a rehearsal for UTBU (Unhealthy To Be Unpleasant).

Theatre production, however, will combine the two on Thursday, March 16 at 8:00 p.m. at the Rector Little Theatre. Performances continue March 17, 18, 24, and 25; curtain is at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 and tickets may be purchased at the door on the nights of performance.

UTBU are the initials for a wacky organization (Unhealthy To Be Unpleasant) that attempts to make this world a better place by exterminating nasty people. Acting on a reported case of mother abuse, UTBU sends its best agent to verify the information. UTBU’s very own “007,” however, has zero-zero vision and is a devoted fan of the alleged abuser, an actor. The actor’s imaginative attempts to kill his feisty 94-year-old mother, therefore, fool the blind agent at first. The unfolding action will keep the audience in stitches.

Elisha Comer, a senior theatre major, is directing the play. She has participated in all UCT productions since her arrival at Union College, both backstage and onstage. Elisha has received the highest accolades in both areas: Best Actress in 2004 and Best Technician in 2005. Her latest onstage appearance was as the eternal mother in The Skin of Our Teeth.

Director Comer has assembled a superior cast for this blast. Danny Nettleton, an audience favorite in such previous shows as The Nerd, once again plays the leading character of the actor. Danny brings enormous talent and energy to the role of J. Francis Amber, who wants to revive his fading career by any means possible.

Playing his mother is Angie Armstrong, who was last seen as the “eternal other woman” in The Skin of Our Teeth. Angie’s Shirley is by turns feisty and be-fuddled, but always adorable. Chris Garland takes on the role of Uggims, the UTBU agent who has an unfortunate habit of spontaneous and unauthorized acts of extermination.

Thomas and Elle Williams provide further laughs as the actor’s timid niece and as the domineering maid, respectively. UCT welcomes back Laura Love from Corbin to take on the role of a stage mother from one’s worst nightmare. Making her first appearance on the UCT stage is Macy Kaiser as an eight year old star-in-the-making.

Rounding out the cast is newcomer Clayton Maurer as the niece’s knight-in-shining- armor, Callie Weddle as the supervisor of UTBU, and Michael Ealy as the child star’s accompanist.

Nichole Ott heads the technical staff as Stage Manager. Melissa Garrett, once again, coordinates the wardrobe. Ricky Ball returns to assist the production as Light Operator and Michael Payne joins the theatre family as Sound Operator. Rounding out the crew are Michael Miles, T.J. Harville, Amy Deininger, and Dustin Sizemore.

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