The Western Stage to Present Dysfunctional Family Comedy 'THE BOONDAWGLE ESTATE'

Meet the Boondawgle family: one hypochondriac, one split personality, one who lives in an imaginary world of grandeur, the controller, the troublemaker, and the one whose only desire is to settle his late uncle's estate and skip town. Will the family pull together to unlock a secret fortune? And what does the goldfish have to do with it? The Boondawgle Estate is a mixture of 1930s style comedy, absurd situations, and the true meaning of family.

The Western Stage presents this kooky comedy in its intimate Studio Theatre, starting September 22 and performing weekends until October 8, 2017 at Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas.

The Boondawgle Estate is a surprisingly new play, considering how well it captures the comedic style of classic 1930's cinema and theatre. Think Noel Coward meets Laurel and Hardy meets Arrested Development. The Boondawgle Estate received its first production in September of 2016 through "DramaDogs - A Theatre Company," at the Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, California. Peter McDonough describes The Boondawgle Estate as an homage to cinema of the 30's and 40's, an era fascinating to the playwright. "I like to laugh, and I have a soft spot in my heart for that era-from straight comedies to farce and slapstick," says McDonough, who sums up the style of both the show and the era as "high pants and fast talkin'." While the play undoubtedly offers moments of levity, its driving force is the exploration of the more outlandish aspects of family relationships.

A little more about the plot: After the death of Boondawgle patriarch, Edward, the eccentric members of the Boondawgle family come together for Edward's memorialization and the bequeathal of his estate. Desiring nothing more than to give a quick nod to his dear uncle's memory and then get as far away from his unpredictable family as possible, Entrance Overhill, the executor of his uncle's estate, soon finds himself and his new bride entangled in a plot to keep the squabbling family together longer than anticipated with the lure of a secret fortune at stake. Served up during the early 1930's at a manor home in upstate New York, the recipe for this comedy folds in a little farce, a splash of vaudeville, a split personality, a dash of skullduggery, a hint of gender bending, a distasteful elixir, a pinch of mistaken identity, an assortment of odd characters, and oh...one goldfish.

Direction by Jeff McGrath. Scenic design by David Parker. Costume design as well as hair and makeup design by Maegan Roux. Lighting design by Theodore Michael Dolas, and sound design by Taylor Wilson.

IF YOU GO:

The Western Stage presents The Boondawgle Estate, a mixture of 1930's style comedy, absurd situations, and the true meaning of family.

Running September 22 - October 8, at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:00 p.m. on Sundays.

At The Studio Theater, home of The Western Stage, Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas.

Admission is $26 general admission, $24 for seniors, and $12 for children age 5 - 15. Hartnell students are free with student I.D. Other students $20. For tickets and information, visit westernstage.com or call 831-755-6816.

Founded in 1974, The Western Stage (TWS) has evolved over the last four decades into one of the most respected community-based theaters on California's Central Coast. TWS is committed to enriching the culture of its community by bringing together professional artists, theatre students, and community members to produce a dynamic season of plays that enhances the lives of both the artist and audience; developing new works that speak to the history and culture of the Salinas Valley; and provide educational opportunities that allow students of all skill levels to explore and develop their unique talents.

The Hartnell CCD serves more than 17,000 students annually through its main campus in Salinas, the Alisal Campus in East Salinas, the King City Education Center, and various outreach learning centers throughout the Salinas Valley. Hartnell College, a Hispanic Serving Institution, provides workforce training, basic skills courses, and prepares students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Hartnell College is recognized for its innovative public and private partnerships that support world class STEM education, career technical education, fine and performing arts, humanities, and athletics. We are proud to be the winners of the Innovation Award for CSin3 - a Computer Science degree in three years. We are growing leaders through opportunity, engagement, and achievement. For more about Hartnell CCD, visit www.hartnell.edu.

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