Hauser Jr. — Sr. High School’s presentation of the Mark Twain comedy “Is He Dead?,” which opened Thursday, continues at 7 p.m. today and Saturday in the auditorium of the school, 9273 State Road 9 in Hope.
Jean-Francois Millet, a young painter of genius, is in love with Marie Leroux but in debt to a villainous picture-dealer, Bastien Andre. Andre forecloses on Millet, threatening debtor’s prison unless Marie marries him. Millet realizes that the only way he can pay his debts and keep Marie from marrying Andre is to die, as it is only dead painters who achieve fame and fortune. Millet fakes his death and prospers, all while passing himself off as his own sister.
Director Josh Goodman, aiming to strengthen Hauser’s theater arts program, first saw the production at his own high school near Cincinnati.
“It’s maybe the funniest play I’ve ever seen,” he said. “There’s all these different storylines, and it includes a lot of Twain’s quips.”
Admission is $8 at the door.
