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"Whether it happens or not, I don't know, but we're going to try," Demuth said.

The slapstick comedy, set in the 1930s, will open at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 and run through Jan. 28 at Salina Community Theatre, 303 E. Iron.

In Ken Ludwig's play, first produced in 1986, world-famous Italian opera tenor Tito Merelli, known as "Il Stupendo," arrives to sing the lead in "Otello" for the Cleveland Grand Opera Co.

If that sounds a bit highbrow, don't worry.

"This is a door-slamming, mistaken identity, flying projectiles type of comedy," Demuth said.

Elvin DeVorss, who plays opera house manager Henry Saunders, describes the show as a hodgepodge of farcical comic styles.

"It's like Abbott and Costello meets The Three Stooges with a little bit of Laurel and Hardy and Carol Burnett thrown in," he said.

Before Merelli can take the stage, a string of mishaps involving an upset stomach, a female fan hiding in the closet, a jealous wife, a bowl of plastic fruit and too many pharmaceuticals ensure that Merelli, played by Steve Sommerville, misses his grand entrance.

"We think he's dead," DeVorss said. "He lays on the bed for a whole scene and a half."

However, the show must go on, and Max, the assistant opera manager played by John Hendrick, dons a spare "Otello" costume and ensures that it does.

"Max is this shy, meek guy who finds his inner confidence once he puts on the tenor's costume," Demuth said.

Gasping for breath

What the audience at "Lend Me a Tenor" doesn't see is the opera. The first act takes place before it, and the second act is what follows. Then there's the curtain call.

"You've got to stay for the curtain call," Demuth said. "It ends with a recreation of the entire show in a minute and a half that has to be seen to be believed."

Demuth said at the start of rehearsals, he promised the cast they would lose a few pounds doing this play.

"After they do the curtain call a couple times, they are literally falling over furniture out of breath," he said. "This is the kind of cast I love because they want to work at it until they get it right."

Hendrick, who appeared as Juror No. 6 in the recent production of "12 Angry Men," said he is enjoying playing the lead in this high-energy show.

"It's one of the funnest shows I've done," Hendrick said. "I've had a few under my belt, and this is definitely a blast."

Constant parade of people

The bedroom and sitting room of Merelli's suite, where all the action takes place, are visited by a constant parade of people, including Max, his girlfriend, Maggie (played by Christen Stovall); Merelli's wife, Maria, (Mary Hughes); opera diva Diana (Shawna Carter); and chairwoman of the opera board, Julia (Jean Boardman).

"Let's just say our set directors had to reinforce a few doors," Hendrick said.

Hendrick suggested the plot, which features multiple seductions and thinly veiled sexual references, is aimed at a 14 and older audience.

Stovall described the play as "a bit of a runaway train."

"Once it starts, you just have to go with it and hold on for dear life," she said.

Stovall, who began practicing her bobby pinned '30s hairdo in time for a rehearsal Monday, said Maggie is her "favorite character ever." While Max calls her his fiancee, Maggie, who is clearly star-struck by the Italian tenor, disagrees.

"She's fun, bubbly and kind of sarcastic," she said. "She really meshes with my personality. She's a little accidentally goofy, too, but all the characters are accidentally goofy."

No glasses, and no beard

Stovall said she particularly enjoys the first act because there are "a lot of really fun sight gags I get to do."

She began learning her blocking early because she plans to perform without her glasses, which don't fit the precise 1930s look, Stovall said.

Another cast member who is working toward his '30s appearance is Robbie Collins, who portrays a scene-stealing, operatic bellhop. Collins, who has worn a full beard for the past three years, is slowly shaving his facial hair, working toward a clean-shaven opening night.

"In the '30s, everybody was clean shaven," Collins said. He first carved his beard into mutton-chop sideburns reminiscent of 21st U.S. president Chester A. Arthur.

By Monday, he had a "French painter" look, with a full mustache and small goatee. He said the next step will be just the mustache, ala Tom Selleck's "Magnum P.I.," and then he will go facial-hair free.

No Tebow, but a Broncnator

DeVorss, who also appeared in "12 Angry Men," is better known in other circles for his appearances as the Denver Broncos "Broncnator."

This charactoer is an orange and blue super fan with white broncos rearing up off both his shoulders. As the Broncos head into their wild card game against the Pittsburg Steelers the Sunday before the play opens, DeVorss said Demuth has expressed concern that DeVorss makes sure he does not have a scheduling conflict.

DeVorss said part of what appealed to him about moving to Salina from Colorado to work in the city's developmental services department, was the opportunities offered at Salina Community Theatre.

"I know of many professional theater companies that would kill for this theater," he said. "This town supports this community theater like no other I've seen."

Basically, it's silly fun

Demuth said the first play he directed for Salina's community theater in 1999 was "Moon Over Buffalo," which was also written by Ludwig.

"He's a very funny writer," Demuth said. "This one is probably his best. It's one of the best comedy farces written in the last 30 years."

Demuth said he enjoys directing comedies because of all the comic bits that can be invented between lines.

"They're fun to stage, and the actors are having a great time just throwing themselves into the characters and situations," he said. "Basically, it's silly fun. It's not meant to cure the ills of the world or have you think profoundly about the human condition. It's a laugh machine, and our goal is to give people a great time."

n Reporter Erin Mathews can be reached at 822-1415 or by email at emathews@salina.com.

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