Welcome to the 2026 Quad Cities theatre season. Kicking it off is Circa 21’s current production, Lucky Stiff, with book by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty, which will make you forget all about those sub-zero temperatures outside. It features mistaken identities, a dog-loving caseworker, and a shooting-prone mistress.
Lucky Stiff is a hilarious off-Broadway musical farce about Harry Witherspoon, a borerd British shoe salesman who inherits $6 million in diamonds from his recently deceased gambling obsessed American Uncle Tony on the condition that Harry takes the dead body on the uncle’s completely pre-paid “dream vacation” to Monte Carlo. By the way, Tony was murdered by his jealous married girlfriend, Rita, who knows about the bequest and is hell-bent on getting those diamonds back and recruits her hapless, optometrist brother, Vince, to accompany her to Monte Carlo to recoup the treasure.
There is, of course, a kink in the plans. Tony has left VERY specific instructions for Harry that if he fails to execute to the letter, the inheritance will be forfeited to a dog rescue organization. Aware of the details of the bequest a representative from the dog rescue place, Annabelle, also follows Harry in order to catch him in an error. She is determined the inheritance will “go to the dogs.”
The result is a laugh-out-loud fun show. Fun for the audience and fun for the actors.
Director Ashley Becher delivers a lightning paced, over-the-top production in a gorgeous, efficient Art Deco styled set by Becky Meissen and Bradley Robert Jensen’s costuming is as bright and colorful as the script. This ultra-talented team continues to outdo themselves with every show produced.
Hot off Circa’s just-ended production of White Christmas are seven members of that cast which include the extremely talented Bobby Becher as Harry Witherspoon, Sarah Hayes as Rita, and Paul Gregory Nelson as pseudo-mobster, Luigi. They deal out delightfully exaggerated characters that will keep you laughing all through the show. New to Circa’s stage in the role of Annabelle is Megan Mistretta. I hope to see more of her.
Stand-out musical numbers in the show include a sparkling opening of “Something Funny’s Going On,” “Good to Be Alive,” and the touching and poignant, “Nice.”
On another note, Circa’s Executive Producer and President, Denny Hitchcock, announced a new chef has come on board. His menu for this show was quite tasty and I can highly recommend one of the show’s specialty cocktails, “The Lucky Stiff.”
This show is the perfect escape from the winter time blues and when you go you will be one lucky stiff.
Lucky Stiff continues at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 – 3rd Avenue in Rock Island where you can now book tickets on their website through March 7 with matinee performances on Wednesdays, evening performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and Dinner performances on Sundays.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.
And I’d like to give a shout out to Bradley Robert Jensen who recently announced that he will be leaving Circa in the fall to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Illinois. He will be missed but we wish him mountains of success.
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