Staff writer
“The Pink Panther Strikes Again,” a two-act play based upon the screenplay by William Gleason, will be presented in two performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday by the Centre High School drama department.
A criminologist, Jacques Clouseau, played by Barrett Smith, fights for his life and the future of all mankind as Paul Dreyfus, played by Kevin Lewis, is out to get him with the ultimate weapon, the Doomsday Machine.
Clouseau somehow manages to avoid attacks from Dreyfus and numerous assassins, culminating in a shot from the hip that hits “our funnybone.”
The play is co-directed by Jennifer Montgomery and Jackie Ingram.
“I’m excited because we have a new sound system,” Montgomery said. “We’ll have sound this year.”
Lewis, a senior, finds himself in a different role than he usually plays.
“This is the first year I’m playing the bad guy, and it’s challenging,” he said.
Smith is enjoying the role of a crazy inspector.
“He’s a very unique person,” Smith said of Clouseau. “He’s a dumb inspector who gets lucky all the time. It’s fun to act out.”
Montgomery said managing a cast and crew of 31 is challenging but fun.
“A lot of students wanted to participate,” she said. “We wanted to have fun but still put on a good show.”
Tickets will be available at the door for $3 for adults and $2 for students.