The cast of ‘Opal’s Baby’ prepares for opening night during a recent dress rehearsal. In the back row, from left, are Dianne Govella as Rosie, Heather Youngblood as Verna, Chuck Thompson as Norman and Pepper Pendzinski as Granny. Seated in the middle is Laura Crocker as Opal. In the front is Elliott Morris as Spencer. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Nov. 4, and continue through Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Port Aransas Community Theatre, 2327 State Hwy. 361. STAFF PHOTO BY MURRAY JUDSON Tonight is opening night for “Opal’s Baby.”

The Port Aransas Community Theatre’s production, suitable for all ages, is slated for 10 performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Nov. 4, through Saturday, Nov. 20. Subsequent performances will be held Friday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 7, at 2:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11, 12, 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 14, at 2:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18, 19, 20, at 7:30 p.m.

The play is a comedy by John Patrick, directed by Larry Paton, about Opal, an irrepressible woman who lives in a tumbledown home on the edge of the city dump, where she has a visitor looking for a tire to fit his 1927 Reo truck. Misguided into thinking that Opal is a rich eccentric, the shifty visitor, Norman, announces (fallaciously) that he, too, is a Kronkie – and Opal’s long-lost kin. The warmhearted Opal takes him, and his whole family, in – whereupon they scheme to do her out of her supposed fortune. What follows are hilarious attempts to get Opal’s “fortune.” A surprise announcement by Opal causes Norman and his family to resort to thievery in an attempt to get her money. Happily, all ends well for Opal, who emerges safe, sound and ready for whatever may come next.

The cast is Laura Crocker as Opal, Chuck Thompson as Norman, Dianne Govella as Rosie, Elliott Morris as Spencer, Pepper Pendzinski as Granny and Heather Youngblood as Verna. Darryl Meadows will run the tech booth, Marg Paton is stage manager, Larry Johnson and Paul Price are in charge of set construction, set painting is by Larry and Marg Paton, and an antique shotgun prop is on loan by Danny Keddrell.

Adult tickets are $15. A special Thursday night and Sunday matinee price of $10 will be available for chrome and plastic seats on the floor only. Tickets for youth under age 18 are $10 for all performances.

The theatre accepts cash or checks only and is not equipped to accept credit and debit cards. The theatre box office will open two hours before each performance. Tickets may be reserved in advance by calling 749-6036, day or night, and picked up prior to the performance at the box office, 2327 State Hwy. 361.