Muhlenberg County High School’s Mustang Drama brings a poignant drama to the stage this weekend.
“The Death and Life of Larry Benson” by Reginald Rose follows a family anxiously awaiting the return of son and brother Larry Benson from the Korean War, three years after being reported as missing in action.
Instead of being seated in the spacious theater at the Felix E. Martin Jr. Hall, the audience enters through the backstage area, to be seated onstage. The scenery is flipped, facing away from the hall and toward its dark corners, behind the scenes. This intimate setup brings the audience into the action, right into the living room to watch a family play out high emotions, after being ripped apart by war.
Leading a standout cast is Rebecca Scott as Freda Benson, Larry’s stoic, suffering mother. Estranged from her husband Sam, she takes on sewing work to make ends meet. After being gone for more than a year, Sam Benson, played by a fiery Jayden Moore, wants to make inroads back to his family and see his son’s homecoming.
Josalyn Niehaus rounds out the anxious family as Larry’s little sister, Jessie. Surrounded by her friends, played by Lilly Chaney, Cheyenne Ellis and Alliyah Hocker, she strains to remember her older brother and braces for the reunion with her father.
When the boy shows up to rejoin his family, played with deep emotion by Ayyoob Shuibat, things don’t go exactly as planned.
“The Life and Death of Larry Benson” is directed by Melanie Smith, with assistance from Sarah Wester. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19.
Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults, available at the door or online at felixmartinhall.org.