The Sherman Players presented the play Millie Monka and the Salmon Cannery written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus on Friday and Saturday in the John Butler Auditorium. The play was produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.

The laughs were nonstop as the plot unfolded. The cannery is in danger of going bankrupt because the salmon have disappeared. Millie Monka, played by Taryn Palmatier, is desperate to save the cannery, but little does she know that her ever-so-friendly worker Artie Fischel, played by Ivy Yochim, was actually behind the scheme to ruin the cannery.

Artie and his adoring girlfriend Gladys Canby, played by Emily Mecusker, revel in their plans to take over the cannery so they can retrieve gold from the river. Artie, complete with black cape and hat, transforms into a dastardly villain and is happy to share his plotting with the audience.

Meanwhile, the cannery’s top fisherman, Fisher Cutbait, played by Jasper Eschenbach, harbors a secret love for Millie, who is secretly infatuated with him as well. But neither of them knows how to tell the other.

Millie Monka, played by Taryn Palmatier, and Gramma Monka, played by Kristi Mercusker, listen to the bad news of the day from Bea N. Counter, played by Quinn Liffner.

As the play progresses, the audience learns that Artie’s henchmen, Lure O’Mally, played by Micah Dye, and his crew have been fishing out all of the salmon upstream. Lure and his cohorts, however, decide they want to unionize for better pay, hours and snacks in the breakroom.

The fun reaches its peak after Artie reveals himself as the villain to everyone Then Fisher’s crew, Norman C, played by Logan Douglas, and Normandy, played by Gary Rotunda, enter and ask if anyone has seen their pet skunk. Pandemonium ensues, various documents get shuffled around and the laughs keep coming.

Rounding out the cast were Bea N. Counter, played by Quinn Liffner; the hypochondriacal grandmother, Gramma Monka, played by Kristi Mercusker; Ratchet, played by Madalyn Wilson; Janet Orr, played by Payson Altsman; and Lure’s crew of cranky fisherwomen, Helen Highwater, played by Elliye Ball; Annette Caster, played Arcana Osterhoudt; and Bruiser, played by Beth VanEvery.

Sherman faculty member Leonard Liffner who, with his wife JoAnn, directed the play, said he chose the play because of its humor. “I love comedies and farces, so I am always drawn to those types of plays,” he said. “I also think about the students that are in Drama Club that year and what show will best fit the cast we have.”

Liffner said enthusiasm was high throughout the production of the play. “The students are very excited to be back onstage with no restrictions, and performing in a traditional play,” he said. “There is nothing like live, in-person theater and I am so grateful to be able to share that with the Sherman community.”

Norman C, played by Logan Douglas, and Normandy, played by Gary Rotunda, talk with their boss, Fisher Cutbait, played by Jasper Eschenbach.

The most unexpected challenge to this production, Liffner said, was a personal injury that he suffered. “I broke my tibia in January and that has put a lot of pressure on my assistant director,” he said. “They have all been very understanding and patient with my injury, as I took the saying ‘break a leg’ quite literally.”

The cast was backed up by a crew of three members: Scott James on lights, Elias Armes on sound and Galen Tehan taking care of backstage duties. Sally Berg served as graphic designer and Jared Oehlbeck and Ray Spacht were responsible for set construction. Numerous other individuals helped with painting the set and selling tickets.

Everyone who attended the play experienced many a good laugh and it was obvious that none of the laughter was canned.

Lure O’Mally, played by Micah Dye, lobbies for fair pay, better hours and snacks in the breakroom with his sinister boss Artie Fischel, played by Ivy Yochim

Fisher Cutbait, played by Jasper Eschenbach and Millie Monka, played by Taryn Palmatier share their secret love for each other with the audience in the Sherman Drama Club’s production of Millie Monka and the Salmon Cannery

Everything is revealed and pandemonium breaks out in the conclusion of the Sherman Drama Clubs production of Millie Monka and the Salmon Cannery.