Dakota Word doesn’t mind making a fool of himself.
So the Niles High School Drama Club’s production of “Perseus and Medusa,” a slapstick, satirical comedy in which he dresses in drag and plays the lead female character, is right in his wheelhouse.

“You have love, battles, drama, danger and laughs by the barrel-full,” Word said.
The play is in the form of a British pantomime, which takes a well-known tale or fable — in this case the Greek myth of Perseus and Medusa — and fills it with plenty of over-the-top comedic twists, including cross-dressing lead male and female roles.
“My favorite way to describe the production is if ‘Monty Python’ and ‘Clash of the Titans’ had a baby. It’s really an interesting take on the entire story, completely different than what anyone would expect,” said Paige Rinehart, who plays the male hero Perseus.
The production is also unique in that it requires a lot of audience participation.
“We want the audience to cheer for the heroes and boo for the villains,” said Word, a Niles High School graduate.
“Perseus and Medusa” is a two-hour, two-act production that concludes with a fight scene that the cast says will wow the audience.
Performances will take place 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Niles High School auditorium. Adult tickets are $10, seniors are $8 and students and children $5. For reservations, call (269) 695-1150. Tickets will also be available at the door.