A humorous twist on the 1950 drama film “Sunset Boulevard,” the New Ulm High School Fall Play will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, and at 1 and 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 18 & 19 in the new high school auditorium. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students.

“Leave It to Daddy” is the most popular family show of the early 1970s. Each week, millions tune in to see how Daddy will solve the Grady family problems.

It’s a national tragedy when Rob Murray, (Augie Babel), who plays Daddy, is murdered by none other than his TV wife, Norma Dredful (Lacey Wilmes).

Norma proclaims her innocence. Even the grand jury can’t find enough evidence to indict, despite Detective Wright’s (Nick Schultz’) eagle-eye.

America convicts Norma who goes into seclusion in the same house the show was filmed and murder took place.

Two decades later, Flo (Ellie Hohensee) and Patty (Madeline Nelson), fresh from college, are determined to write a story on Norma. They find a way into her house and convince her, despite protests from her faithful butler, Max (Colin Leuthold), to allow them to tell her side of the story.

What a success. The country has forgotten and forgiven. Even Cecil B. LaPill, (Muhammad Fadhil), the great producer, is willing to give Norma a role in his upcoming, big-screen version of “Leave It to Daddy.”

Some old wounds don’t heal. Norma’s bitter TV children, Randall (Miles Irwin), Inez (Lucy Sletta), and Dot (Anna Uehling), pay her a visit and let her know she ruined their lives. When the show was canceled, so were their careers.

Norma handles the detractors gracefully until one of them decides to blackmail her. It’s then that Norma decides enough is enough. She agrees to meet the blackmailer, but ends up shooting the upstart.

Just as she was 20 years ago, Norma is caught red-handed with a corpse, weapon, motive, and plenty of opportunity.

Detective Wright gets a second shot at Norma. Can he bring her to justice this time?

“It’s a fun little murder mystery,” said director Wendy Tuttle. “Kids get to play parts unlike they have before, with the time frame changing 20 years. It’s been fun to do, talking to them about their favorite 70s shows.”

Tuttle said the cast should be applauded for its hard work, moving from the former middle school auditorium to the new high school auditorium.

“They’ve been very patient. We just moved most of our things to the new school last Friday,” Tuttle said.

A couple main characters talked about the play.

“We’re lucky to have this nice, new stage,” said Anna Uehling (Dot Ferris). “I like the play a lot. It’s a good one to end on. It’s a good cast. Everyone is nice and we have fun.”

“I like the (’70s) era. It’s fun and funny,” said Lacey Wilmes (Norma Dredful). “A lot of us have big parts. We all come together.”

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