By Krista Tincher
Of the Tobacco Valley News
Meet Meg Wheeler. She’s a small town college graduate freshly arrived in 1950s New York, staying at an boarding house for girls. Her talent: Making up statistics. Her quest: To find a husband. Where does she look? The advertising firm of Doughton & Doughton, run by brothers Miles and Evan Doughton.
Thus the comedic plot unfolds in Lincoln County High School’s annual play, “Ask Any Girl,” to be performed by 17 students in the LCHS Auditorium at 7 p.m. March 19 and 20, and at 3 p.m. March 21.
The comedy was originally written by Winifred Wolfe and made into a movie starring Shirley MacLaine in the 1950s.
Junior Rinnah Henderson acts as Wheeler in what she considers the easiest role in her three years of school plays. “But for me being me, and her being a character, sometimes she’s kind of annoying,” Henderson noted. That, however, is one of the joys she’s found in acting, Henderson added. “You get to do things you would never do in your own skin.”
Junior Levi Sturdevant is Miles Doughton, a focused workaholic who is cold, calculating, and businesslike, as Sturdevant describes him. “He’s an easy person to play,” Sturdevant said.
Doughton’s playboy brother, Evan Doughton, is played by senior Doug Tallon. “I think he’s a pretty fun character to act as,” Tallon said. “Relaxed, a good sense of humor.” Tallon can relate to Evan, he said. “I find myself humorous,” he said.
It all adds up to a quick-paced, fun play, said director Kelley Comstock. This year posed a new challenge, however, since set designer Bob Cardana has been busy with other work. The students were scheduled to begin construction of the set just Monday, which means that practice time on-set is limited this year.
And only five of her students are experienced actors, noted Comstock, while 12 are giving it their first shot. “Trying to get them all together at once can be a bit challenging,” Comstock said.