Three Sips of Saki, Season 64, 2025

“Three Sips of Saki” by H. H. “Saki” Munro

Directed by Janine Campbell and Peter Grady

This “play” is really three short comedies in one. The plays are based on stories written by an English humorist whose pen name was “Saki.”

“The Baker’s Dozen” is about two English aristocrats who want to get married, but they have 13 children between them. “13” is such an unlucky number that they try to give one of the children away.

“The Open Window” is about a nervous young man from London, who needs rest in the country to calm his nerves. At a house in the country, he encounters a young woman, who realizes that he can be easily frightened and intimidated. She makes up outrageous lies to terrorize the young man and make him scurry back to London.

“The Story-Teller” is about two children, who are behaving badly on a train and their aunt, who cannot control them. A stranger offers to tell them a story–which delights the children and horrifies the aunt.

 

Pete Grady is the adapter of the Saki stories featured in “Three Sips of Saki,” co-director of the show, and a 50-year alumnus of St. Ambrose University, the home of the “Fighting Bees.” Grady has been involved with the Marshalltown Community Theatre for a long time. A long time. Before there was a beard. Before the hair was white. There was even a time he could act and remember his lines. But now he has bowed to the dictates of age. He no longer even tries to learn lines. Now he writes the lines for other actors and then yells at them for forgetting the lines that he wrote but which he himself can’t remember. And he makes no apologies, because he is a Fighting Bee.

 

 Janine Campbell is the co-director of “Three Sips of Saki” and the Aunt in “The Story-Teller.” As the Aunt, she tries to be entertaining but tells stories that are (according to her nephew and niece) “stupid.” Janine (pictured on the right side in the photo) has been involved with MCT for over 20 years. She prefers to be behind the scenes helping with props or stage managing. A few times, she has been coaxed to actually set foot on the stage, most recently in the summer of 2025 where she portrayed a poor, put-upon Russian-speaking widow in a reading of an award-winning one act play, “Two Old Farts.”

 

Evelynn Buck is Bertha in “The Story-Teller.” Evelynn is an 8th grader at Miller Middle School. Previously she participated in MCT’s “Elf Jr, The Musical” as well as “Finding Nemo, Jr.” and “Music Man” with Kid’s Acting Academy. Evelynn has been in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” and “King Arthur’s Quest” with Missoula Children’s Theatre and several drama skits at her church. Evelynn enjoys reading, writing, band, and swimming in her free time.

 

 Evelyn Schrader is making her debut with MCT as Maud in “The Story-Teller.” Last summer, she was in “Finding Nemo, Jr.” with Kid’s Acting Academy. Prior to that, Evelyn acted in both “Rumpelstiltskin” and “King Arthur’s Quest” with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Evelyn started her love of acting at age six when she began acting classes and performances with the Des Moines Community Playhouse. She has participated there for six consecutive years. Evelyn’s most rewarding acting is when she appears as Elf-lyn the Elf with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Veterans Home.

 

Jack Borcherding is a fifth grader at Lenihan Intermediate School, where he is part of the bilingual program and XLP. In addition to playing multiple sports every season and CrossFit, he has taken up violin and chorus this year. After attending several camps for acting and filmmaking over the last few summers. Jack really got the acting bug this past summer after starring in a short film and playing “Marlin” in “Finding Nemo, Jr.” with Kid’s Acting Academy. Despite staying very busy, Jack always finds time to spend with friends and family, whether he’s outside, watching movies, cheering on his favorite teams or playing video games. He also loves reading, recently diving into the Harry Potters series.

 

 Camden Borcherding is Ronnie in “The Open Window.” Camden is a second grader at Woodbury Elementary School, where he is part of the bilingual program. He enjoys participating in sports every season (soccer is his favorite) and CrossFit Kids at the YMCA. Not unlike his big brother, Jack, Camden’s love of theatre began after taking part in the Kid’s Acting Academy’s production of “Finding Nemo Jr.,” where he was a clam (we called him “Clamden” for weeks) and sang in the ensemble. He’s thrilled to have his first individual speaking role as part of MCT. He loves to draw and sing and he’s always outside riding bikes, roller skating, and playing with friends.

 

Tyler Lillibridge is playing The Traveler in “The Story-Teller.” Tyler has been a part of MCT since 2022, with performances in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as Van Ripper, “The Mousetrap” as Sgt. Trotter, and “The Diary of Anne Frank” as Mr. Dussle, to name a few. He particularly enjoys shows he performs in with his wife, Lydia Lillibridge. While not sharing a scene with her this time around, they will both be featured in these “Three Sips of Saki.”

 

Mackenzie Moyer is playing Vera in “The Open Window.” Mackenzie has been involved in theater since middle school and found a love for it in the first middle school production of “Check Please Take Two.” This is Mackenzie’s second MCT production and her first time on stage. Mackenzie likes to read, do diamond paintings and spend time with her partner, Daniel and family.

 

 Lydia Lillibridge is Mrs. Paly-Paget in “The Baker’s Dozen.” Since starting with MCT in 2022, Lydia has thrived being on stage and helping off stage as well.  Her favorite roles have been in “Terms of Endearment,” “Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas,” “The Mousetrap” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” She loves reading, spending time with her husband and her two adorable cats.

 

Ken Walton is the Conductor in “The Story-Teller.” Ken has been a staple on the MCT stage having appeared in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” to name a few. He has also designed and built sets for MCT. Ken is a 40-year member of the Optimist Club and retired from Emerson Process Management.

 

Stacie Sorenson will play Emily/Lady Carewe in “The Baker’s Dozen.” Stacie is a book hoarder, a terrible chess player, a Free Mom Hugger, a writer-er, and a creator of bad cast bios. In her spare time, she pretends to be strange people on stage. In real life, she pretends to understand how pivot tables work in Excel. As to Lady Emily Carewe, Stacie thinks Lady Emily should perhaps adopt a cat instead of chasing rogue Americans.

 

Jonathan Kirner is a roguish New Orleans widower trying to woo a British aristocrat in “The Baker’s Dozen.” Then, in “The Open Window,” he plays a very nervous yet pleasant young man, who just wants to rest in the country before receiving a fright that sends him running back to London. In 2006, Jonathan began his theatrical calling at the age of 10 when he was a newsboy singer in “Working!” Since then, he has been in at least 8 shows and worked in some capacity to support at least another 8 shows just at MCT as well as 7 shows at MHS. During MCT’s last season, Jonathan directed “The Gravedigger” and was assistant director for “Family Reunion.” Currently, Jonathan serves as President of the MCT Board.

 

 Trudy Sharp is in “The Open Window.” She made her debut with MCT in “Family Reunion” last season after years of retirement from the stage; fifty-plus years ago, Trudy was in class plays and one-acts in high school. She enjoyed being in “Family Reunion” and the people so much that she decided to do it again. She hopes you enjoy this comedy!

 

Jacoby Silvey is Major Dubarton in “The Baker’s Dozen,” Mr. Sappleton in “The Open Window,” and the Wolf in “The Story-Teller.” Jacoby is a 32-year-old father of two. He is an avid disc golfer and electricians apprentice as well as a home chef and family man. He loves trying new recipes, binge watching my favorite shows, hiking, fishing, and sharing new experiences with the woman he loves. Born in Oregon, migrated to the Midwest just over a decade ago. He enjoys what life has to offer and tries not to take himself too seriously.