Hope College Theatre will open "The
Rimers of Eldritch" by Lanford Wilson on Friday, Feb. 16, in
the DeWitt Center main theatre.

The production will continue on Saturday, Feb. 17,
and Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 21-24. All performances begin
at 8 p.m.

The play is set in a small former mining town in
the Middle West several decades ago. There has been a
murder. As the facts surrounding the killing are unraveled
in quick overlapping images, the town itself is revealed.

It is far from an idealistic or sentimental view
of life in small-town America, according to John Tammi of
the Hope theatre faculty, who is directing the production.
"There's very little of Norman Rockwell or Lake Woebegone in
Eldritch," he said. "But Lanford Wilson does give us a
literary glimpse into the heartland which is both rich and
complex. He offers us a compelling tapestry of sounds and
images that may be rather dark but it is also quite lyrical.
His voice rings true and the truth is not always pleasant."

The department of theatre stresses that "The Rimers of Eldritch" is a mature play with strong content and language. It is not recommended for children.

The cast consists of 17 actors: sophomore Brenna
Bosma of Orland Park, Ill.; sophomore Joshua Brandenburg of
Mt. Vernon, Ohio; freshman Chris Bryan of Libertyville,
Ill.; senior Maria Cipolone of Fort Wayne, Ind.; freshman
Matthew Farmer of Bangor; senior Nathan Hart of Holland;
freshman Timothy Heck of Libertyville, Ill.; freshman Blake
Konny of Wheaton, Ill.; freshman Angela Mishler of Pickford;
junior Emily Niewendorp of East Jordan; junior Jill Nyquist
of Dyer, Ind.; sophomore Elizabeth Sturrus of Kentwood;
sophomore Lauren Toner of Libertyville, Ill.; sophomore
Rebecca VanWeerdhuizen of Bukidnon, The Philippines;
freshman Amanda Weener of Grand Rapids; senior Heather
Wiegand of Hudsonville; and junior David Yang of Marshall.

The production's stage manager is senior Jennifer
Kaufmann of Okemos.

Designs are by members of the Hope theatre
faculty: Richard L. Smith for scenery and properties
design; Michelle Bombe for costume, hair and makeup design;
and Perry Landes for lighting and sound design. Technical
direction is by Paul Anderson.

Tickets are on sale in the theatre lobby ticket
office of the DeWitt Center, and cost $7 for regular adult
admission, $5 for members of the Hope faculty and staff, and
$4 for senior citizens and students. The ticket office is
open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and
from noon until show time on Saturday, Feb. 17, and
Saturday, Feb. 24, and can be called at (616) 395-7890.

The DeWitt Center is located on Columbia Avenue at
12th Street.