- November 25, 2024
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Thank You Five, Port Orange’s only nonprofit community theater, will be premiering dark comedy “Smell of the Kill” starting on July 12.
Written by Michele Lowe, “Smell of the Kill” stars three female protagonists — Molly, Nicky, and Deborah — who get together once a month for a dinner party with their husbands. What would have been a normal night turns into a suspenseful conflict when the women’s husbands find themselves accidentally locked in a home walk-in freezer.
In the play, Molly's husband stalks her on an hourly basis, Nicky's husband embezzles money, and Deborah's husband cheats on her with clients from his real estate company. Needless to say, the women have a tough choice to make: let them free or let them freeze?
“This show is special because it’s a ladies’ show," Director Jack Rose said. "The protagonists are all female. It’s relevant to what’s going on today; it’s a show that definitely empowers women.”
Emily Sowell, Aliviah Williams and Bethany Stillion play the three wives faced with the ultimate decision.
Stillion, of Port Orange, plays Deborah, and described the play as a dark fantasy, saying the women consider what everyone wishes they could do when they’re angry at someone.
Sowell, a lawyer, plays Molly.
“I was so excited when Thank You Five opened up because they really do a unique and creative lineup of shows," Sowell said. "There are some that are fresh from Broadway, some that are a little bit indie or new, so it’s a fun place to work.”
Williams has been doing theater since high school, but starring as Nicky in “Smell of the Kill” is her first production out of high school.
“It’s so relatable,” Williams said. “Considering killing someone doesn’t seem like an everyday type of problem, but the problems within it that leads up to whatever decision we make are realistic.”
In addition to theater productions like “Smell of the Kill,” Thank You Five also hosts stand-up comedy events and open mic nights.
“We’re a unique theater,” said Terence Van Auken, one of Thank You Five’s founders and president. “Because we’re smaller and have a more specialized audience, we tend to do stuff that’s a little edgier than most community theaters. By doing that, we’re attracting some of the best local actors in the area so we’re putting on some darn good shows.”
Tickets are $17 for “Smell of the Kill,” with proceeds going towards future productions. Tickets are available for purchase on the theater’s website.Head over to see the production on July 12-13 and 19-20 at 7:30 p.m., and July 21 at 2:00 p.m.