The stakes are high in “Cards of Fate,” the latest show that will be put on by the Firebird Players. The show is adapted from a one-act show by Ed Monk.
The production follows two game show hosts, Buffy and Cinnamon. They are personable, smile, and have a great time hosting their game show. Think of it as the “Price is Right.” The contestants get asked questions and if they answer correctly, they win money. If they answer incorrectly, something bad happens to a random person. A person’s date may go sour, someone may bump their head, or maybe worse…
Director Phillip Maritato describes the show as a “dark comedy.” He said he and Lake Region Public Library Director Maddie Sharp picked the show after going over a number of possible choices. “We read the script in one sitting and agreed this is the one. It’s the best blend of dramatics and humor.” Maritato said after directing a production of “Clue” last year, “our crew best works as an ensemble. That’s how they get their best performances.”
The show will not only be performed for the public but will be put on for the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) Class A State One-Act Play contest. They will be competing against schools that will be coming from Fargo, Bismarck, and elsewhere. Both the show for the public and the competition will be at the Robert Fawcett Auditorium at Lake Region State College.
For the competition, the judges will be looking at the performances, how the show runs, if the set looks good, lighting, and sound. Two outstanding performers will also be recognized. Maritato directed a show that performed last year for the competition. He directed a production of “Nora’s Loss,” about an old woman who gets lost in the woods and suffers from dementia.
“It was a tougher show,” he said. “It wasn’t chronological. We really had to do that black box theater art house style… This year, we wanted to do something with a more concrete plot. I was happy with our performance when we competed in the state-level show.”
Maritato said that he learned a lot from his first time putting up a show for the state competition. “What I learned from last time is to have more fun and prepare and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Seeing knowledgeable directors from Fargo and Bismarck was intimidating,” he said. “We’re not really here to compete and beat one another. We’re here to learn from other productions and see what others do. It’s fun to put on our show, but the most important thing is it’s an educational experience.”
Maritato hopes the audience at the public shows gets to see the hard work the students have put into the show.
“I think when they come in and watch the show, they’re going to see our talented students working really hard to entertain the masses,” he said. He adds that “Cards of Fate” shows how “the entertainment business is kind of grimy. You can look at other things, such as cable news, that use tragedy to entertain. “Card of Fate” leans into that aspect.”
“Cards of Fate” will be performed for the public at the Robert Fawcett Auditorium at Lake Region State College on April 1 and 3 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.
