Havre High presents: 'No Body Like Jimmy'

"No Body Like Jimmy," a Havre High School production, will entertain attendees with a comedy of errors.

The Havre High School production unfolds a bad situation at a party as the host of the party, Ralph, finds his friend with the classic problem of having a dead body in his car. The body of the unknown man is dragged into the house and into awkward and tense situations with the party-goers as the two main characters try to remedy the situation.

The play is a comedy and, for some of the actors, a first for the crew. The banter between the party, which has been organized to create a team that will help start Ralph's wife's campaign as a congressional candidate, is full of quips and shady personalities.

Angela Pratt is the director of the production, and is the primary director for the school plays now that Jay Pyette retired last school year.

"We've been working on it since the end of September," Pratt said.

The acting crew built the set themselves and have been working out their lines and timing.

"We used to have a high school set-building class, but they got rid of it this year," Pratt said. "And, they got rid of all the acting classes and everything - so these kids built the set."

Most the actors had no set-building experience prior to this production, but looking at the replicated living room scene, it is difficult to tell.

Pratt said the most difficult part of the show was building the set, but comedy is right up there.

"Comedy is hard, and they're learning it, but it is a funny show," Pratt said.  " ... Learning how to interact with each other and be funny without laughing - it's hard for these kids, to know how to deliver a line and be funny."

The crew is made up of newcomers and veterans and Pratt said she is happy to say they are all good kids.

"We've got brand new ones who have never done a show before," Pratt said. "We have a few veterans in this cast, but they're all so fun. It's different with every new cast you get."

Most of the actors are from the swim team, choir or band.

"The cool thing about Havre High is the theater kids are the good kids," Pratt said. "I've talked to other people in other programs and they won't even let their kids be in theater because they're rough and tough and hard. These are the good kids. These are the straight-A kids."

Jessica Nivens Otto, who plays Diane, the political campaign manager, said she was originally doing lighting for the play and was then casted in her current part. Nivens Otto said learning the script was alright, but the timing is most difficult.

"It wasn't that hard," she said. "You start practicing and then it comes around. You have to learn it with everyone else, though - that's the hard part."

Pratt has been directing theater for seven or eight years, she said, most of them under Pyette.

The theater opens its doors Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The running time is about an hour and 45 minutes to two hours.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students.