BUCKHANNON, West Virginia —   When Henry A. Perkins, a mild-mannered CPA, accidentally picks up the wrong briefcase – this one full of money – chaos ensues. Join West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Department of Theatre and Dance for “Funny Money” directed by Dr. Greg Mach, associate professor.

Written by British playwright Ray Cooney, “Funny Money,” continues the story of Henry and the wrong briefcase. Henry assumes it is illicit cash and decides to keep it. Knowing that the former owner must have his own briefcase, Henry rushes home to book one-way fares to Barcelona. Brace yourself for 120 minutes of riotous, manic farce that ropes in cops, neighbors, friends, fake Australians, real cabbies, fake sex workers, accidental wife swaps, a murder and a rapidly emptying briefcase of money.

“This is a very rare play in that it has just one plot line,” Mach said. “This poor guy wants to get away with this money he found, and everything piles up around him to hilariously keep him from his happy ending. The jokes come fast and often, and it’s a real door-slamming comedy full of unforgettable characters.”

The cast list includes Anna Lohmann ‘30, of Morgantown, West Virginia, as Jean Perkins; John Spellman ‘28, of Fairmont, West Virginia, as Henry Perkins; Rhyan Sebring ‘27, of Caldwell, Ohio, as Billie; Ben Gerhart ‘30, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, as Davenport; Leigh Rice ‘28, of Philippi, West Virginia, as Slater; Bianca Hicks, ‘30, of Clarksburg, West Virginia; as Betty; Elijah W. Dickey ‘27, of Chloe, West Virginia, as Vic; and DeAndre Jones-Payne ‘29, of Morgantown, West Virginia, as passer-by.

Mach added, “A show like this is very hard because a typical script is around a hundred pages, but this moves so fast and so much happens in a short period of time. The script is over 150 pages. It’s a wild ride for the audience, but also the cast and crew because they have to memorize so much – it’s like putting on two plays at once.”

Scenic design is by Boyd Wolz, director of technical theatre, with costume design by Jody Wolz. The crew also includes stage manager Brooklyn Johnston ‘30, of Elkins, West Virginia; associate stage manager Nealah Martin ‘30, of Lost Creek, West Virignia; makeup design by Salem Bradshaw ‘28, of Summersville, West Virginia; lighting by Peyton Harrison ‘30, of Nutterfort, West Virginia, sound by Hope Knotts ‘30, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Roy Terry ‘30, of Huntington, West Virginia; crew chief Aiden Brown ‘29, of Buckhannon, West Virginia and props by Payton Hill ‘28, of Hedgesville, West Virginia; and Kai Toler ‘27, of Harts, West Virginia. Publicity was managed by Elliott Hronesz ‘30, of Hedgesville, West Virginia; and Hudson Leach ‘30, of Hurricane, West Virginia.

“It’s rare to see a play with such a heavy joke intensity, and that’s one of the reasons we chose it,” Mach said. “The students learn a lot about doing comedy from this script, and the audience will be as worn out as the actors from laughing so hard by the time it’s all over.”

Performances run Thursday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Virginia Thomas Law Performing Arts Center with a Saturday, Oct. 24 matinee at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 general admission and $5 for seniors, students and the Wesleyan community. High school students and their families attending the admissions open house on Saturday, Oct. 24 will be able to see the show for free. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for 136 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2027 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan 4th in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.