March 28, 2024

SWCC hits the ‘Gas’ during Pay It Forward Week

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There are only 40 tickets available per night.

So, don’t wait to get your seat for SWCC Drama Club’s production of “Gas Light” slated April 23-26 during the community college’s Pay It Forward Week.

Kelly Franklin, director of this play, said the reason for limited tickets is the play will be black box theatre — meaning ticket holders will be on the stage with the cast.

“The drama will be inescapable this way,” Franklin said.

Franklin describes “Gas Light” as an intense, suspenseful thriller centered on the Manningham family who live on Angel Street in 19th century London. There, Jack Manningham (played by SWCC music student Joseph Larson) — a suavely handsome man — is slowly driving his devoted wife Bella (Ahdri Evans) to the brink of insanity in a methodically evil way.

But, then one afternoon, Bella receives an unexpected call from Inspector Rough (Justin Queener) from Scotland Yard. Rough is convinced Jack is a homicidal maniac wanted for a murder committed 15 years earlier in the house they’re living in. Gradually the inspector restores Bella’s confidence in herself and the evidence against Jack unfolds.

“This play keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly questioning the sanity of the characters,” Franklin said.

The other two main characters in the play are housemaid Elizabeth (Jennie Stamper) and bossy housemaid Nancy (Erica Yager) who Franklin said is “quite the troublemaker.”

The play is about two hours in length. Show times are 7 p.m. April 23-25 and 2 p.m. April 26 at SWCC Performing Arts Center in Creston. Franklin said “Gas Light” does have adult themes and isn’t recommended for those age 17 and younger.

Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults and can be purchased in advance by contacting Franklin at 641-278-0319 or 641-782-1533. Southwestern students can view the play for free as part of Pay it Forward Week on Wednesday.

Other activities planned for Pay It Forward Week include:

Monday

10:45 a.m. Social psychology class reads to first graders in Afton

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All campus picnic at SWCC student center

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sexual Assault Awareness table at SWCC student center

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brown Bags for Mental Health Awareness at SWCC student center

5:30 p.m. Superhero 5K run/walk *

6 to 8 p.m. Community CPR/AED at Creston High School

* Cost is $20 for the Superhero 5K. Race starts north of the Southern Prairie YMCA. Register at www.swcciowa.edu. Free T-shirt with paid registration.

Tuesday

1 p.m. SWCC softball vs. Central

1 to 2:30 p.m. Afternoon at the Farm at SWCC ag site *

7 p.m. Awards ceremony at SWCC gym

* About 75 children will tour the Southwestern Community College ag site Tuesday. They will see cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, horses and more. Interested in this event? Contact Erika Blair at SWCC by dialing 641-782-1352.

Wednesday

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Student Ambassador blood drive in SWCC room 180

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. McKinley Lake clean-up

2 to 4 p.m. Cemetery clean-ups in the community

7 p.m. "Gas Light" play at SWCC performing arts center

Thursday

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meals from the Heartland packaging at the SWCC gym *

* There are currently 16 community volunteer teams and 17 student teams signed up for this year's Meals from the Heartland packaging event. Last year, volunteers packaged 60,264 meals during the event. The goal this year is 70,000 meals. To sign up a team or for more information, contact Beth Kulow at 641-782-1413.

Friday

No classes

1:30 p.m. Campus cleanup day, meet in front of student center

See a full list of all activities at www.swcciowa.edu.