Fun romp with 'Thieves Carnival'

Procenium Players, Inc., brings "Thieves' Carnival" to Carson City for three weekends beginning Friday at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada.

The romantic comedy, written by French playwright Jean Anouilh, is a lark of a journey with a group of affectionate thieves as they scheme their way into the palatial home and hearts of it's female residents. Set in the late 1920s in Vichy, France, romance blooms between one of the two daughters and the youngest thief. Being a very honest fellow, he cannot in good conscience accept her love and instead turns with vengeance toward his job. But she is swifter in her wiles than he is in his. So who steals whose heart?

"It's a ridiculous situation," said director Dave Josten. "It's a farce. Thieves are trying to make a living in the world and stealing from each other. The rich young heiresses and the love interests create a variety of situations to appeal to a lot of people.

"They're bumbling thieves, but they never see themselves as thieves out to lure the heiresses."

When Josten decided he wanted to do a comedy as a counterpoint to current stressful realities, he just looked back to his own good ole days.

"It was the first play I was ever in as a college student," he said of the small role he had as one of the policemen. "While I was looking for something to do, I found it again and read it and liked the humor and situations. I thought it would be fun to put it on again."

"Thieves Carnival" includes a host of characters.

Jody Paslove as Peterbono, the head of the crooks, gets to rant and rave, Josten said. And Lord Edgard, played by Des Craig, is a silly fuddy-duddy type of character.

"It's truly an ensemble play in that everyone has a moment to shine or more than a moment to shine."

The cast includes 18 actors, both experienced and new to the stage, and 11 staff and crew, with the actors often doing double duty to help change the sets. Pat Josten produces the play.

"It turned out to be what I had hoped going in," Josten said, "a very entertaining piece. Not a lot of deep philosophical moments but a lot fun."

"Thieves' Carnival" shows are 7:30 p.m. March 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 on stage at the Children's Museum art 813 N. Carson Street, Carson City. Enter on the Ann Street door. Ticket prices are $15 for general admission and $12 for PPI members, students. seniors. Tickets are available at www.showtix4U.com, by calling 883-6442 or 887-0438 or at the Children's Museum desk.

For more information, go to www.prosceniumplayers.org for more information.