The Marshalltown Community Theater (MCT) is bringing “Three Sips of Saki” to the stage on Friday. The trio of one-act plays does not revolve around the Japanese alcoholic beverage – spelled “sake” — but around short stories by author Hector Hugh Munro, who used the pen name “Saki.” Saki died in 1916, and wrote short stories in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

Three of his short stories — “The Baker’s Dozen,” “The Open Window” and “The Storyteller” — were adapted for the stage by MCT member and director Pete Grady.

“I put it together and foolishly named it ‘Three Sips of Saki,’ forgetting people would think of sake the drink and not Saki the writer,” he said. “The only real problem I have had with the show from the beginning is explaining (that) alcohol has no part in the show.”

When he was in high school, Grady read a short story by Saki and was delighted by it.

“I thought it was wonderful, and I investigated his work and I became a lifelong fan,” he said. “Then I started to play around with writing different things for theater, and I thought this was something I could turn into a stage play, and all of his work is in the public domain.”

Grady considers Saki to be a more humorous author than Charles Dickens.

“He is sharper and more clever than just about anybody I have read,” he said. “His humor is really cutting edge. It’s short, sweet and you can read his stories in 10 minutes. I think the three shows go very well together.”

At first, Grady was only interested in “The Open Window,” but there was not enough for a full play. He said within 20 minutes, the show would have been over. After reading more Saki stories, he found “The Baker’s Dozen” and “The Storyteller” and worked them into plays and developed scripts. Grady added the Marshalltown Community Theater (MCT) actually performed “The Storyteller” about 10 years ago.

“It was very well received and we had a good time with it,” he said. “In fact, one of the actors – Ken Walton – was in the original production.”

Grady had to do some adaptations of two of the short stories. For example, he eliminated a character in “The Storyteller” as it was not needed, and added one to “The Baker’s Dozen” and created a side story of the new character.

When stories are in the public domain, they are not copyrighted. So, people can use the stories without permission or paying for it.

Three sets of cast members will grace the stage at Miller Middle School for the performances. Grady said “Three Sips of Saki” will be one of the final three shows performed in that venue before the renovation begins.

“The Baker’s Dozen,” which takes place on the deck of a ship, includes Jonathan Kirner as Adrian; Stacie Sorenson as Mrs. Carewe; Jacoby Silvey as Maj. Richard Dumbarton; and Lydia Lillibridge as Mrs. Paley Paget.

“The Open Window” is set in an English countryside living room, and the cast consists of Kirner as Framton Nuttle; Mackenzie Moyer as Vera; Trudy Sharp as Mrs. Sappleton; Silvey as Mr. Sappleton; and Camden Borcherding as Ronnie Sappleton.

“The Storyteller,” which is set in a railroad car, consists of co-director Janine Campbell as Aunt; Evelyn Schrader as Maud; Jack Borcherding as Cyril; Tyler Lillibridge as Traveler; Walton as Train Conductor; Evelynn Buck as Bertha; and Silvey as Wolf.

He said they have a great cast, consisting of veterans and newbies, including four youth. One of Grady’s favorite aspects of the three one-acts is that they are all comedies.

“You will get some laughs out of this thing, because Saki is very clever and he puts together just absurd ideas and sneaks around and bites you in the funny bone,” he said. “This will really be a chance to enjoy his stuff.”

Because of the humor, Grady guarantees the audience will get at least “a laugh or two.” Plus, the trio of one-acts will feature a broad range of actors, including four who are school-age.

“It’s a community effort, and what we really want is for people to come and say, ‘That looks like fun. I want to do that,'” he said.

PLAY INFORMATION:

Name: Three Sips of Saki

Location: Miller Middle School Auditorium

Address: 125 S. 11th St.

Dates and times: Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.

Tickets: $15

——–

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@yahoo.com.