Event

Gale McNeely in archy and mehitabel

The beloved characters of Archy, the literate little cockroach and Mehitabel, the morally careless cat, first came to life in the editorial column of the great Don Marquis back in 1916 in the pages of the New York Evening Sun. Now, the poems, songs and comic sketches of Archy and Mehitabel are brought to the stage by actor Gale McNeeley.
The title is always styled archy and mehitabel (in lowercase because, as a cockroach, Archy could not reach the shift key when typing their names). They were originally illustrated by George Harriman, the creator of the legendary Krazy Kat & Ignatz. Their long history in American pop culture include a 1950's musical and a 1990's television cartoon, and their antics continue to delight audiences in McNeeley's show, which has received mention in the Annotated Archy & Mehitabel, published in 2006 by Penguin Classics.
Gale's career has spanned Broadway, regional theater, television, film, and circus. McNeeley has studied physical comedy in Europe and teaches clowning and Commedia Dell'Arte. He was a student at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in the 1970s, and performed here at the Pacific Arts Center, which is now the Arcata Playhouse, almost 30 years ago and is looking forward to reuniting after many years with Humboldt County audiences.
His love affair with Archy and Mehitabel began when he was cast as Archy, the poetic, singing and dancing cockroach in the musical archy & mehitabel in 1980.
Gale McNeeley presents archy and mehitabel at the Arcata Playhouse in Arcata on Saturday June 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets $10 general ($8 students and seniors)
or by calling (707) 822-1575.

Visit www.arcataplayhouse.org for more information. Reservations are advised.