Shouts of “Bingo!” filled the Dartmouth High School cafeteria Sunday, March 16 as students in the Dartmouth High Theatre Company prepared for their upcoming production, “Gunfight at the Bingo Corral.”

The play is an interactive comedy production that takes place in a Wild West saloon where people play bingo while “a bunch of wacky things happen,” said student-director Mason Langlois.

The audience will be introduced to a wide cast of characters, including Old Lady Who, Marshal Woody Chuck, Old Timer and his son, Old Timer Junior, and a barkeeper with a split personality disorder.

The one-night performance is a fundraiser to fund the Dartmouth High Theatre Company’s trip to New York City.

The story is loosely driven by Marshal Woody Chuck as he works to solve the mystery of who is trying to steal people’s land while those in the saloon play bingo.

“Marshal Woody Chuck finds out that there’s someone going around stealing people’s land, and he’s like, ‘I’m going to find this person, and I’m going to figure out what he’s doing and stop him,” said senior Lily Duval, who plays the marshal.

“It’s a little bit all over the place, but that’s kind of what I like about it,” said senior Audrey Kertscher, who plays one of the saloon girls. “It’s not necessarily one full storyline, but overall it’s just very funny.”

Juliana Mallowes, who plays the barkeeper, said parts of the play are crowd interactive, including a scene where the characters start square dancing and have audience members join in.

Duval said those in attendance will also have the chance to be in a gun duel with some of the characters.

“You get a really different experience than what you usually get with theatrical productions, since you’re in the show,” Langlois said. “It’s really unique to have yourself be part of the production.” 

According to Duval, “Gunfight at the Bingo Corral” will be “very different” from anything audience members have experienced before.

“’It’s funny in unexpected ways, and has a lot of twists and turns,” she said.

Kertscher said, “So many people are putting their heart and soul into just one performance of the show, and so far I think it’s going to be absolutely amazing.”

Tickets cost $20, and audience members will receive five bingo cards, which will be used throughout the play as a cast member calls out numbers.

Additional bingo cards will be available for purchase, and there will also be a raffle.

Tickets are available for purchase online at https://dhstheatreco.booktix.com/ or attendees can reserve tickets by calling or texting 508-441-4602.

See “Gunfight at the Bingo Corral” on Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. in the Dartmouth High School cafeteria at 555 Bakerville Road.