"The Outsider" Skewers Politics and Celebrates Democracy

With election season upon us, Lake Wales Little Theatre is presenting a timeless and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy.

The action takes place in the office of the governor of a small state. In the wake of Gov. Larry Paige's ouster for a scandal involving a beauty pageant contestant, the job is thrust on Lt. Gov. Ned Newley. Newley doesn't even want to be governor. He's terrified of public speaking and his poll numbers are impressively bad. To his ever-supportive Chief of Staff, Ned seems destined to fail. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things differently: Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office. Unless the public is looking for... the worst candidate to ever run for office. A surprise choice for lieutenant governor adds levity to the occasion.

Angelo Giso, who plays nervous Ned Newley, is a newcomer to the LWLT stage, as is Don Schatz, who plays the mostly silent cameraman, A.C. Petersen. Other cast members include Nicholas Bique as consultant Arthur Vance, Dorinda Morrison-Garrard as pollster Paige Caldwell, Ian Elliott as chief of staff Dave Riley, Pat Schatz as office temp Louise "Lulu" Peakes, and Jillian Gillis as TV news correspondent Rachel Parsons. Chevon and Mike Baccus are co-directing the play, and Karen Fewell is stage manager.

"This play is laugh-out-loud funny and the cast is doing an amazing job," said Mike Baccus. "This is a fun, political romp that keeps the audience engaged and laughing. There's no partisan politics in the play, just a look behind-the-scenes in political campaigns."

The Lake Wales Little Theatre production of "The Outsider" opens Friday, Nov. 4 for a 3-weekend run. The play runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at the intimate, 140-seat theater, located at 411 N. 3rd St. in Lake Wales.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for students, available online at lwlt.org. A box office at the theatre is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, and ticket reservations may be made by calling 863-676-1266.

"The Outsiders" was written by Paul Slade Smith and produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc.