The Oswego Players' rubber chicken rally at the Farmers' Market on Thursday was a success among onlookers, as the cast chanted, "Hey! Ho! Save the chickens, see the show!" to raise awareness for all forgotten rubber chickens.
The cast, who will be performing Jack Sharkey's "Who's On First," marched up and down West First Street dressed in character, holding picket signs that read "Why did the chicken cross the road? To see the show!" and "Isn't she rubbery?"
The cast followed the rally with a sneak peek performance at The River's End Bookstore. Community members filled the seats as they laughed at the short performance.
The scene began with a frantic Camille, played by Julia Preston-Fulton, who was dodging passes made by Ben, played by Knathan Mackenzie-Roy. As Ben continued to woo Camille, the doorbell rang and Alice, played by Tammy Lynn Wilkinson, entered the room.
Throughout the scene, it became apparent that Ben and Alice were romantically involved. However, later on in the scene, Alice's seemingly-intoxicated husband Don, played by Peter Mahan, stumbled in and saw Alice and Ben together. Equipped with a gun, Don began to threaten everyone in the room and everyone placed their hands in the air.
"Here, hold this for a second," he said to Alice as he handed her the gun, while everyone's hands were still in the air. Alice, with a puzzled look on her face, held the gun while Don reached in his trench coat pocket for the infamous rubber chicken.
"Don!" Alice cried out. "You've been in my underwear!"
Alice then quickly reworded her statement as everyone looked at her in surprise.
"I mean, my underwear drawer," she said.
The audience laughed before the scene took a shocking turn: Don accidentally shot Ben and Alice.
The scene quickly ended, leaving the audience intrigued.
"What happens in the next scene?" an audience member asked the cast during the cast meet and greet.
"It's a lot of what you just saw, plus more," director Sherri Metz said.
The production will take place Sept. 12, 13, 19 and 20, with a special matinee Sunday, Sept. 21 at the historic Francis Marion Brown theater. Tickets may be reserved by calling the Oswego Players' box office at 315-343-5138.
