Sit down. Buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride! As the curtain rose last night for the opening performance of The Man Who Came To Dinner, you could hear the audience gasp at the gorgeous set. And as actors came onto stage, and the madcap storyline began to unfold, we all knew we were in for a special evening.

There is an amazing amount of dialog, I marvel at the theatre kids who can pull off accents, dialects, and quippy lines, all delivered with skillful mannerisms. The fabulous costumes appear to be custom-designed and fit to the actors, truly evoking a period piece, as this play is set at Christmastime in the late 1930s.

They are truly an ensemble cast, but kudos must be given to the breakout star, Alex Budd. Move over Gilberto, there’s a new sheriff in town! Playing the lead part of Sheridan “Sherry” Whiteside, Budd embodies this most unlikable character perfectly, all while expertly wheeling around in a vintage chair. His delivery of wickedly cruel insults is perfectly timed. He is a real pain in the you know what, but we find ourselves liking him in a sick way.

Mind you,  this is a long play with two intermissions, so the actors and audience can catch their breath. But the time flies by, with none of us looking at our watch (phone).

For their first performance, the kids were great at some ad-libbing, they never dropped a line. Their comprehension of old-school humor, schtick, and schlock, is a testament to the talent of their director, Ethan Niven. There is non-stop movement and physical activity on the chaotic stage, never a dull moment; that masterful choreography I’m sure can be attributed to Ethan’s mother Niv. Boy, are we lucky to have the Nivens back at South Tahoe High, running the show!

A couple more standouts: Lily Erwin’s saucy facial expressions tell the whole story, she has a terrific stage presence in spite of no dance routines. Emma Zion pulls off a complicated character with ease and aplomb, she’s a true professional.  Xavier Cuevas’ flamboyant and over-the-top rendition of Night and Day is superb. And Oliver Randolph kills it. 

The audience’s standing ovation said it all.

Histrionically yours,  Michelle Gomez  Tahoe Art League 

For information on dates, times and tickets, visit https://southtahoenow.com/03/21/2025/the-man-who-came-to-dinner-opens-at-south-tahoe-high-friday