Palm Canyon Theatre Thrills Audiences with 'The Bad Seed'

PALM DESERT, CA - From the Palm Canyon Theatre: A mother suspects her daughter may be a murderer… and her daughter is only 8-years-old! That’s the story of The Bad Seed, playing for only four performances at the Palm Canyon Theatre, October 12-15. Yes! The Bad Seed will run on Friday, the 13th of October! Audiences can get their thrill on before Halloween!

The Bad Seed is a 1954 play by Maxwell Anderson, adapted from the novel of the same name by William March. The scene is set in a Southern town, where Col. Kenneth Penmark, played by Allan Jensen, and Christine Penmark, played by Yo Younger, are raising their only child – Rhoda. Ava Tethal plays the seemingly perfect, well-groomed, mature young lady.

After being confronted about the death of Rhoda’s classmate by a school administrator, Claudia Fern, played by Margie Lewis, and the dead boy’s mother, played Morgana Corelli, Rhoda’s mother starts to put pieces together that her daughter may be responsible for the deaths of the boy, the family dog, and a neighbor. Later, the desperate mother actually catches her daughter in the act of killing Leroy Jessup, played by Garnett Smith. PCT company member Suzie Wourms plays Monica Breedlove, the unassuming landlady and Christine’s best friend who believes Rhoda is a perfect child.

With Desert Theatre League Award Winners Younger, Lewis, Corelli, Smith and Wourms working together the show is sure to engage audiences with edge-of-your-seat suspense. Other cast members of this classic play include Frank Catale, Bruce Cronander, Larry Dyekman, Bob Harrison and Nick Wass. The production is directed by Steve Fisher, who has many PCT directorial and acting credits, including some that have earned Desert Theatre League Awards.

The Bad Seed is a melodrama that includes a nonfictional character – the story reveals that Rhoda’s mother is the daughter of a real-life, infamous serial killer, Belle Gunness. Born Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth, Gunness murdered 25-40 people between 1900-1908, including boyfriends, husbands and children— all to collect insurance money.

The Bad Seed brings to light the “nature vs. nurture” debate. The story portrays that although Rhoda was raised in a nurturing environment, she could not escape her fate of being born a natural killer. In 1956 The Bad Seed was developed into an Academy Award-nominated film directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Those who have only seen the movie version may be surprised by the play’s ending, which aligns with the novel but not the silver screen.

The Bad Seed opens at the Palm Canyon Theatre on Thursday, October 11, and runs through Sunday, October 15. Show times are 7 p.m. on Thursday,8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Sunday matinee starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $29.50. Student tickets are $15, with valid ID; student tickets must be purchased at the Box Office.

For tickets or more information, call the Palm Canyon Theatre Box Office at 760-323-5123 or order online: PalmCanyonTheatre.org. The Palm Canyon Theatre is located at 538 North Palm Canyon Drive, at the corner of Alejo Road and Palm Canyon Drive. Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Image via Palm Canyon Theatre