It wasn’t planned to do an outer space melodrama at Pulaski High School around the same time as the historic Artemis II space mission and the new science fiction film “Project Hail Mary,” but those two things are helping to entice the community to see “Lost in Space and the Mortgage Due,” being performed for one weekend only.
The premise for the melodrama is that a pair of dastardly villains in the 25th century decide to steal a farm from an elderly couple because the property is rich in rocket fuel. A space cadet is trying to pay off the farm’s mortgage with the new invention of a rocket that goes sideways, but the fair heroine, Rosa Budd, ends up tied to the rocket and almost launched to her doom.
Director Amy Tubbs said her students made it clear that they wanted to do something besides another Western melodrama, a tall order considering most melodramas take place in the Western genre.
“It’s a fun spring activity because it’s all just silly humor and ridiculous characters,” Tubbs said. “You don’t have to be so serious. That’s what makes it a nice spring thing, especially the seniors. They’re looking forward to graduation, but this is something fun in the meantime.”
For Katherine Hurley, who plays Rosa, performing a melodrama like “Lost in Space” allows her and the rest of the cast to put some creativity into their roles.
“It’s just a special thing being in space,” Hurley said. “There’s lots of sparkles and lots of interesting characters with space-like traits. We’ve got a robot and aliens, and that’s pretty great.”
Riley Mommaerts, who plays Space Cadet Bob, has been performing on the stage since middle school, but he’s enjoying his time being the hero of the show. He enjoys working with friends and being able to portray a character who is over the top.
“The main part is the people you get to act with,” Mommaerts said. “It’s always so much fun, especially backstage during shows.”
Mommaerts’ best role is as a hero, according to Aiden Winn, who plays the dastardly villain Sniveling Snidely Backlash. Winn said Mommaerts is really enjoying the role and being in the spotlight.
Of course, playing the villain has its perks, too.
“I get to pout and be a child the entire time. I really enjoy that,” said Winn, who also got to be an exaggerated character back in February when PHS performed “Seussical.” “They’re both over the top and both require a lot of energy.”
Jocelyn Kelly, who plays Winn’s cohort in crime, Evilina Craven, also enjoys being bad, noting that “Lost in Space” is fresh and “out of this world.”
“I like the character. She’s very out there and spicy,” Kelly said. “She’s one my more favorite characters in plays.”
It’s been almost 30 years since PHS last performed “Lost in Space,” but it fit in with the students’ request to not do another Western. Tubbs noted that it’s a good thing to coincide with a blockbuster film’s debut and the recently completed NASA mission that took four astronauts around Earth’s moon and back.
“There are some out there, and we’ve done some others recently,” Tubbs said. “We hadn’t done this one since 1997, and it was space-themed. So we brought it back because it’s really different from some of the other ones we’ve done, and the kids are having fun with some of the space things and the themes.”
Tubbs added that “Lost in Space” is appropriate for all ages.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: “Lost in Space and the Mortgage Due”
WHEN: 7 p.m. April 25, 2 p.m. April 26
WHERE: Ripley Performing Arts Center, Pulaski High School, 1040 S. St. Augustine St., Pulaski
TICKETS: $8. They can be purchased at pulaskihs.ludus.com or at the door, if available.
