Group to present a haunting tale

Rainbow Company play features a ghost seeking redemption

LARRY CRUIKSHANK/VIEWRainbow Company Youth Theatre actors, from left, Caity Rautenstrauch, Natasha Leibman and Mark Stinson practice a scene for the play "Ghost of the River House" at the Reed Whipple Theater, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Advertisement

You're never too old, or too young, for ghost stories.

Just ask the folks from the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, a city-funded group developed in 1977 to give kids interested in the arts a place to hang their hats.

The company has been in rehearsals for the past month preparing for a production of Michigan playwright Max Bush's "Ghost of the River House."

The story revolves around the remains of an old river house in the 1920s, where a young woman once lived with her family. The family fell into financial disrepair when the young woman disappeared, and her fate is never determined.

"The audience is led to believe that she disappeared with the money, although the reason why is never revealed," guest director Brian Krawl said.

It's later determined that the girl drowned herself in the river and returned to the house where she grew up, forever yearning to right the wrongs of the past. Years later, one of the young woman's descendants returns to the river house, and the ghost is faced with much more than she bargained for.

According to Krawl, the play's central themes revolve around the abstract concepts of family and redemption.

"Each of the characters is looking to recover from something," Krawl said. "The ghost isn't sure why she is there. She is full of regret and wants to move on but isn't sure how. Her living counterpart is still searching for the family money that disappeared so many years before, thinking that it will make all of the problems in her life go away."

One of the greatest production challenges in the early stages of rehearsal was creating a believable environment where a ghost might dwell, Krawl said.

"I had a lot of fun researching ghost activity for this production," Krawl said. "The script does a great job of presenting the reasons why we think ghosts stay and haunt a space."

Krawl said that one of the factors that will add to the uncomfortable tingling sensation that he projects will stalk the spines of audience members is the intimate setting of the Reed Whipple Theater, 821 Las Vegas Blvd North.

"The action tends to wind around the audience," Krawl said. "I think that audiences can expect to see something more complex, and maybe more interesting, than they are used to seeing from youth theater groups with this production. It's a thoughtful play, with serious themes. The audience is pulled into a believable, but creepy atmosphere. It's just an all-around enjoyable evening."

While some of the subject matter may be inappropriate for children under the age of 8, artistic director Karen McKenney said she couldn't be prouder of her young cast.

"Our kids are between 11 and 16, and I think they have done a great job in presenting something that isn't typically tackled in youth theater," McKenney said. "This isn't 'Floppy Bunny' stuff. It's real. It's disturbing in some ways. And I think people are going to love it."

The play will run at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 10-12. The show also will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday and April 12-13. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $3 for children and can be purchased at the door.

For more information, call 229-6211.

'GHOST OF THE RIVER HOUSE'

* When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and April 10-12; 2 p.m. Sunday and April 12-13.

* Where: Reed Whipple Theater, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North

* Tickets: $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for children. Available at the door.

* Information: 229-6211