“Money to Burn” lights up the Clearwater winter

What happens when three small-time female con artists find themselves unwittingly involved in a big-time counterfeiting scheme?

(L-r) Bebe Wilson (Joanna Hurst), Tiger Murray (Lynda Ludbrook) and Nancy Plunkett (Katie Roach) laugh as Nikolai Purdy (Steve Raschke) discusses a fake $100 bill he received from Gail Webster (Jaime Lovgren). They were taking part in the play 'Money to Burn'.

(L-r) Bebe Wilson (Joanna Hurst), Tiger Murray (Lynda Ludbrook) and Nancy Plunkett (Katie Roach) laugh as Nikolai Purdy (Steve Raschke) discusses a fake $100 bill he received from Gail Webster (Jaime Lovgren). They were taking part in the play 'Money to Burn'.

What happens when three small-time female con artists find themselves unwittingly involved in a big-time counterfeiting scheme?

That was the premise behind “Money to Burn,” a witty comedy presented by After Hours Theatre Society last week.

The play by Pat Cook was fast-moving, suspenseful, and full of quick one-liners and plays on words.

Jaime Lovgren, Lynda Ludbrook and Katie Roach played the roles the three members of Wilson and Associates – a seedy company that operates out of an even seedier office.

Their landlord was played by Dianna Trautman. She kept harassing her tenants for the rent – until they paid her with what turned out to be a bogus $100 bill.

Joanna Hurst was the person the women hired to be their bookkeeper, except she seemed suspiciously willing to help out, even when things got complicated.

Chance Breckenridge was the willing but not-too-smart male friend.

The unwitting source of the counterfeit money was Gretchen Reveille, in the role of a bank employee and kleptomaniac.

Kim Pendergast was maybe her sister, and then her supervisor at the bank, and then maybe had another motive.

An excitable delicatessen owner who did not appreciate being given funny money was played by Stephen Raschke.

Neal Broswick took the role of a police officer on the trail of the counterfeiters – or was he?

An honest police officer who put all the bad guys away – that was the role played by Alex Arduini.

Arduini also directed and produced the play. This is her first season after taking the place of Krystle Moilliet, who founded After Hours Theatre six years ago.

Other members of the crew included Philippa Sutterby, Ross Wilson, Crystal Wadlegger, Becki McLeod and Allison Loewen.

Good-sized crowds turned out for the performances, which were held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, plus a Saturday matinee.

 

All were in the Pit at Clearwater Secondary School.

 

 

Clearwater Times