Linden Community Theatre puts on wild comedy about family

“In-Laws, Outlaws, and Other People (That Should Be Shot),” by Steve Franco, is a wild ride set on Christmas Eve for a family who is taken hostage by two runaway thieves. Linden Community Theatre is producing the knee-slapping comedy.

The Douglas family is surprised when two inept hooligans hold up in their home for the evening, as the pair try to escape the police. The hoodlums are surprised, too, by the family and their attitudes — none of them seem to take the seriousness of the evening to heart!

The family — ranging in age from 11 to 83 — will have audiences rolling as they think twice about what is said. The teenage daughter presents the one real challenge as she constantly reminds the thieves of their lack of intelligence — but, of course, teens do that to everyone ... right?

The kooky play’s talented performers will entertain audiences — and have them seeing their own loved ones in many of the characters.

Veteran actors include Rich Matheson and his daughter, Isabella Conradi, who get to share the stage for the first time. June Spencer and Sean Bocardo are back together for the first time since they worked at Stockton Civic Theatre’s “Dearly Departed,” and Kimberly Romberger gets to work with her granddaughter, Brooklyn DeBaun, after performing in “Gypsy” last year at Community Theatre of Linden.

Hannah Medler, Randall Whiteman, Keely Vaughn and Bill Rood, who sits on the board of the theater, all join the cast from Linden. Wendi Sherman, Christine Fink and Annette Lahman performed in the Linden company’s “Bye Bye Birdie,” and Lahman and fellow actor Donald Turner performed in “Hair Spray” at Hutchins Street Square.

Rounding out the cast are Robert Krantz, who worked first at Stockton Civic Theatre in tech theatre, and Rick Brewer, last seen in SCT’s “1776.”

Carol Barry serves as the production’s technical director, Mark Sheasley will handle lighting, and Elsa Fulton is our costumer. Matheson doubles as the

sound designer, and Taralyn Ferry serves as stage manager.

Judy Caruso Williamson Is directing the show.

“If the laughs we have shared in rehearsal are any indication, our audiences are going to go out of the theater with a smile on their face and singing a Christmas carol — even in July!” Williamson said.