Rhyme Time

Contributed Photo
“Mother Goose Has Flown the Coop” is a featured event slated for this Friday at 6:30 p.m. to kick off the Merrill 100th birthday celebration. “It tells the story of how nursery rhymes got started,” says director Alberta McDonald. The family friendly play will be presented at the former Methodist Church building in Smyrna that is now the home of the Smyrna-Merrill Historical Society. Staged with local talent, McDonald said the action takes place on Fairy Tale Island once upon a time with comedic results. McDonald said: “If you know your nursery rhymes, it’s a riot.” The premise of the storyline is that Mother Goose is missing and several characters set out to find out what happened to her. Noelle Pratt compiled “musical snippits” based on TV and movie themes like “Perry Mason” and “The Godfather.” In front, from left, are Paula Lilley, Tanya Lawrence, Bethany Collins and Shirley Drew. In back are Cindy Bartman, Kristi Brannen, Anthony Drew, Crista Nelson and McDonald.