DANVILLE — The Red Mask Players Children’s Theater will present “King Arthur’s Calamity” in three public and four school performances this month at the Kathryn Randolph Theater, 601 N. Vermilion St.

Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Performances for area schools will be given during the school day today through Thursday. Home school families are invited to attend.

The comedy uses a 15-member cast from third through eighth grade, led by director Amanda Coutant. The producer is Jamey Coutant.

The director said nearly 50 children tried out for the show, so some hard choices had to be made when choosing the cast members.

Members of the cast include Josh Toler (Arthur), Jacob Techtow (Merlin), Rachel Berner (Queen Jennifer), Deakin Axtell (Earl of Nasty), Christine Wadhams (Lady Nasty), Nelle Smith (Arthur’s guard), Meridith Black (Edith the nurse) and Dalton Chrzanoski (Nasty’s henchman).

Other actors include Guin Zillman (Nasty’s henchman), Molly Smith (Maude), Isabelle Peters (Cecelia), Trevor Damilano (town crier), Helen Dale (townsperson), Farrah Anderson (townsperson) and Natalie Dale (townsperson).

The plot for this show may sound familiar. The setting is Camelot, just before Arthur becomes King of England. The old queen would like to retire, but she wants her successor to be worthy and good to her people — and not the ambitious Earl of Nasty.

Merlin the magician is instructed to choose the next king. He brings forth a rock with a sword thrust into it and proclaims the person who can pull out the sword will become king. The Earl of Nasty tries and fails, but Arthur, the young page, easily removes it.

Next, the Earl of Nasty locks Arthur in a dungeon. But as the plot unfolds, the audience learns it’s just not that easy to fool Merlin.

Josh Toler, a sixth-grader at Bismarck Junior High School, said, “Sitting on the throne and fighting with a sword are the best parts of playing King Arthur.”

He was somewhat surprised to get the part of Arthur since he was competing against at least 30 other boys. This is Toler’s third children’s play, but it’s his most challenging role so far, with 67 lines to memorize.

Deakin Axtell, a fifth-grader at North Vermillion Elementary School, said it took him a while to feel comfortable in the role of the Earl of Nasty, who is very mean. ”But I think I have the hang of this character now,” he added.

This is Axtell’s fifth performance in children’s plays, and he hopes to have an acting career someday.

The play’s director, Amanda Coutant, said, “This is a very funny comedy, and some of the kids are hilarious in their roles. There’s a lot of sword fighting, which they love.

“The show is also historical, and it teaches the kids a lot of facts about King Arthur and the Round Table,” Coutant added.

Coutant, 25, has been involved in Red Mask children’s productions since she was in third grade, first working backstage and then appearing on stage.

FYI

Red Mask is celebrating its 50th year of presenting children’s theater. A spring and a fall show are produced each year. For tickets or more information, contact the Red Mask box office at 442-5858.