Great Bend Community Theatre members are on the lookout for comedy this week as they present a red hot comedy, “Neighborhood Crime Watch.”
Show times are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Crest Theater. The box office will be open daily over the noon hour starting Monday, and tickets will also be available one hour before each performance.
“Neighborhood Crime Watch” has the feel of a ’70s TV sit-com – one with clever writing and screwball situations.
“Two burglars, Ronald and Donald, break into a house and, in the midst of their bungled getaway, find themselves in attendance at a neighborhood crime watch meeting,” according to the publishers. “Complications follow when homeowner Lisa and her vigilante/spinster neighbor Mona greet the other arriving guests: Myron, a neurotic psychiatrist; Father Bob, the local parish priest; and Officer Buddy, an off-duty policeman. This fast-paced play has all the ingredients of classic farce.”
The play is directed by Angela Meitner, assisted by Joanie Haines. Meitner has appeared in or helped direct numerous GBCT productions.
“This is my first time to direct,” Meitner said. Three of her eight cast members are new to the Community Theatre’s stage; Jordan Colman, Roy Danks and Jami McVay are joined by veterans Charlie Dixon, Teresa Frieb, Jeff Gibson, Paul Martin and Jim McVay.
“It’s a very funny show,” Meitner said, noting it should be “rated PG” for some language. “It’s a real physical comedy.”
GBCT Manager Sally O’Connor knew the playwright, Craig Alpaugh, who died in 2000.
“Craig and I went to Emporia State together,” O’Connor said. “It’s been a lot of fun to do this play. I just hear his voice. (The story is) so typical of how he entertained us all, back in the day."

New equipment
A new and improved sound system will make its debut with “Neighborhood Crime Watch.” O’Connor said recent fundraisers provided capital for the upgrades at the Crest.
Parr Sound and Lighting installed two over-stage microphones and two additional speakers under the balcony, which improves the sound throughout the house. GBCT has also purchased a hearing assistance system with four separate units that patrons can check out.
Another recent purchase is a computer to assist managing the theater. It is also being used in the sound booth for cuing effects.