“Inspecting Carol

“Inspecting Carol

WEEKEND: Preview performance of ‘Inspecting Carol’ is Sunday

SEQUIM — Uh-oh.

The National Endowment for the Arts has sent an inspector to Olympic Theatre Arts, just as the local thespians are putting on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

The players at OTA try to figure out who among them is the spy. Moreover, a pot of much-needed grant money depends on what the inspector thinks of the troupe.

When a young man shows up to audition, the crew decides he’s the one from the NEA. Never mind that he is horrendous during his tryout.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Then the real, live NEA inspector shows up — unbeknownst to cast and crew — to watch a dress rehearsal. Which turns into a night no one will forget.

So begins “Inspecting Carol,” the comedy to arrive Sunday at OTA after some mishaps of its own.

Originally scheduled to open Friday, “Inspecting” will have its first performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, for the preview price of $8 for all seats.

Earlier this week, a cast member was injured and technical problems befell the crew, so opening night has been moved to next Friday, Nov. 22.

A special pay-what-you-wish performance, however, is still slated for this Wednesday, Nov. 20.

On opening night next Friday, a champagne reception will follow the 7:30 p.m. show, and then the play is off on a two-week run, with curtain times at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 1 at OTA, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Veteran Sequim actor and director Lee Harwell is at the helm of “Inspecting Carol,” directing a cast that features Jan Bolla as the secret agent from the NEA, Richard Hendricksen as Larry the diva, and Damon D. Little as Tiny Tim. Oh, and since Richard Hauf had to bow out, Harwell is taking on his role as the kind, somewhat addled thespian Sydney Carlton.

Sam Kirk, Sharon DelaBarre, Tracy Williams, Debbie Bourquin, Steve Schultz, James Willis and Karl Hatton also appear in “Inspecting,” a play that originated at the Seattle Repertory Theater in 1991.

It has been called “A Christmas Carol” meets “The Government Inspector” meets “Noises Off!,” and has come to stages around the country.

It’s been in Sequim before too. In the late 1990s Steve Tharinger, now a state legislator, was the director. Also that time, DelaBarre played her character, Zorah Bloch, for the first time.

In “Inspecting,” everything that can go wrong does. For one thing, the stage collapses. And since Tiny Tim is holding a punch bowl at the time, the bowl gets dumped into the NEA spy’s lap.

This show has a big backstage crew taking care of it all: Amanda Tait on the lights, Phil Mortenson and Pam Bennett running the sound, Glenn Barton, Harwell, Hauf, Carl Honore and Sharon and Del DelaBarre building the sets.

Elaine Caldwell and Sharon DelaBarre are the set painters, Patty Davis and Maryann Ballard are the dressers, Davis and Honore are the costumers, Rosalyn Scott is props mistress and Penny Pemberton is the stage manager.

Together, they have created “a wondrous, irreverent spoof,” said Harwell, of all that we love — and laugh about — when live theater happens in a small town.

Tickets to “Inspecting Carol,” starting next Friday, are $16 for adults, $14 for active-duty military and OTA members, and $10 for children 16 and younger.

Reservations and details await at www.OlympicTheatreArts.org and at the box office, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 360-683-7326.

More in News

Mason Combs is 4 feet, 3 inches tall and has red hair, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Search underway for missing 10-year-old

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and partnering agencies are searching… Continue reading

Sequim research lab testing ways to use seaweed, resources

PNNL is only Department of Energy lab with marine facilities

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading