Planting Pleasure

Life is a garden, and sometimes it needs a
little tending. Park University’s student actors explore that metaphor onstage with Enchanted April, now in production at Jenkin and Barbara David Theater Alumni Hall on the university campus (8700 Northwest River Park Drive in Parkville). Adapted from Elizabeth von Arnim’s novel of the same name, the play concerns British housewives who nurture seeds of hope and joy in a garden. “The show is really just a lovely piece about how sometimes we just get into a rut with our lives, and things don’t seem to be going well, and we don’t know what’s going on,” says director Andrea Southard, adjunct professor of theater. Once the women start planting, Southard says, “They meld their befores with their afters. The dream changes them — a beautiful dream of sunshine and wisteria.” The curtain rises at 8 p.m. The run continues with performances at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, plus two more 8 p.m. shows March 26 and 27. Call 816-584-6451 for tickets ($10, or $5 for Park students).

Fri., March 19, 8 p.m.; Sat., March 20, 8 p.m.; Sun., March 21, 2 p.m.; Fri., March 26, 8 p.m.; Sat., March 27, 8 p.m., 2010