Comedy and soul searching come together in ‘Dead Accounts’

The play follows Jack, an ex-banker, undergoing a mid-life crisis, who got fed up by his money-obsessed life in New York and decides to returns home to Cincinnati. “It’s a story about coming back to your childhood house and trying to figure out what is important and what is not,” said Director Vladimir Rovinsky. “The play is very fast-paced, witty, funny and a little sad as well.”

“Dead Accounts” was first performed at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, in February 2012 and then quickly moved to Broadway. St. Cloud State’s production opens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 on the Performing Arts Center’s Arena Stage.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28-Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. Dec. 4. Parking is $3 in the 4th Avenue Parking Ramp or free with a St. Cloud State parking permit.

Jack comes home to his childhood home unannounced where he runs into his sister, Lorna, and mother, Barbara, who are living together with his ailing father. They are visited by Jack’s childhood friend, Phil, who has never gotten over his high school crush on Lorna.

Jack vents his frustration on anybody who will listen, while obsessively consuming a lot of comfort food. His homecoming is upended when his wife, Jenny, shows up and announces Jack has stolen $27 million from his bank’s so called dead accounts, unclaimed funds whose account holders are unknown or deceased.

“The play is a delicate balance between comedy and serious themes about how people deal with the fact that their life hasn’t turned out how they thought it would,” Rovinsky said.

The production will feature an original song “Where on to our Shoulders” created by Minneapolis musician Daniel Bonespur.

The song will be used throughout the production. “This song really kind of carries the spirit of this show and helps to create unique atmosphere on stage,” Rovinsky said.

The unique atmosphere will be enhanced by the play’s setting. The design team created a memorable set, a full functioning kitchen with a working sink and stove. On stage the actors will make coffee and waffles and eat real food.

“That gives the actors a lot of things to do and gives access to the reality of the world of this play as well,” Rovinsky said. The audience will also be on stage sitting on risers, which increases the intimacy and honesty of the performance.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for non-St. Cloud State students and free with a St. Cloud State ID. Tickets are available at SCSUtickets.com. “Dead Accounts” includes the use of some profanity. Dead Accounts is part of the 2016-17 Creative Art Series.

The Creative Art Series is enhancing student learning and broadening public perspectives through art, music, film and theatre.