George Faber as Arthur Vance, George Gaston as Dave Riley; Rosemary Brown as Rachel Parsons, Amber Nicole Smrek as Louise Peakes and Sean Shoop as Ned Newley rehearse in “The Outsider” that opens 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Theater in Marietta. (Photo provided)

As the election heats up, the Mid-Ohio Valley Players is bringing humor to the political world with “The Outsider” opening Friday at Players Theater on Putnam Street.

“The Outsider” runs 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, and 3 p.m. Oct. 20.

Tickets are $13 and are available at midohiovalleyplayers.com or at the box office beginning two hours before each show.

The show, written by Paul Slade, is a political comedy.

When Gov. Larry Clarke steps down following a scandal, Lt. Gov. Ned Newley finds himself in a situation he never wanted, becoming governor of the state. He is terrified of public speaking and his poll numbers are terrible. To his chief of staff, Newley seems destined to fail.

From left, George Gaston as Dave Riley and Rosemary Brown as Rachel Parsons in a scene from “The Outsider” at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (Photo provided)

A political consultant sees things differently. Newley might be the worst candidate to ever run for office, but maybe the public is looking for the worst candidate to ever run for office.

Amber Nicole Smrek plays Louise Peakes, a seemingly incompetent executive assistant sent over by the temp agency.

“Louise is such a fun character to bring to life. I have enjoyed every second of crafting her. But my director told me to not talk about her too much to save her as a surprise,” Smrek said.

“Politics today seem to have everyone divided. And this show, ‘The Outsider,’ helps ask what people should really be concerned about when it comes to politics,” she said. “It shouldn’t be about who’s red and who’s blue. It should be about who is the best fit for the job. And while you’re figuring out who is best for the job, you’re laughing along the way,” she adds.

Sean Shoop returns to the stage as the reluctant Ned Newley.

From left, George Gaston as Dave Riley, Sean Shoop as Ned Newley and George Faber as Arthur Vance rehearse for “The Outsider,” a production of the Mid-Ohio Valley Players. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (Photo provided)

“My character just wants to do his job, which he is very good at. What he isn’t good at is talking to people,” Shoop said. “I’ve had fun finding my version of Ned that started as a mix of Lou Costello and George McFly.”

Shoop encourages everyone to come to the show.

“This show is funny, smart, and I think the message is important for the world today,” he said.

George Gaston is having a great time bringing Chief of Staff Dave Riley to life.

“(Director) Nicholas Rake has done an amazing job bringing these characters to life. I get to appear with some incredibly talented actors who have made this show one of the most hilarious productions I have ever had the privilege of being a part of,” Gaston said.

Louise Peakes, played by Amber Nicole Smrek, in “The Outsider,” the latest presentation of the Mid-Ohio Valley Players that opens 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Players Theater in Marietta. (Photo provided)

Rake said he saw an excerpt at the Ohio Community Theater Association state conference in 2022 and it was the one show that everybody in the group from the Mid-Ohio Valley Players agreed on enjoying.

“I figured a political comedy with that much widespread appeal would be perfect for the folks in Marietta to enjoy,” Rake said.

This show is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service and is sponsored by Levee House Bistro.

The cast is: Beth Lane as Paige Caldwell; George Gaston as Dave Riley; Amber Nicole Smrek as Louise Peakes; Sean Shoop as Ned Newley; George Faber as Arthur Vance; Rosemary Brown as Rachel Parsons; and Sterling Mayer as A.C. Petersen.

The show is directed by Nicholas Rake and Tim Tuten. The assistant director is Ket Perkins.

The political comedy “The Outsider” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta. From left, Beth Lane as Paige Caldwell, Sterling Mayer as A.C. Petersen and Sean Shoop as Ned Newley. (Photo provided)