For the third time in as many months, Western students have created a play that can be appreciated by people of all ages.

Throughout the 2008 fall semester, Western’s Children’s Theatre is debuting a new play every month. Written by Lowell Swortzel and directed by Franklin, Tenn., junior Kaitlen Osburn, “The Mischief Makers” marks the November effort of the group.

November’s play follows three animals with legends and antics from around the world. A spider, a fox and a raven all vie for the position of world’s greatest trickster. Each member of the trio takes turns telling stories and attempting to persuade the others that their own feats of trickery are the greatest.

“Laughter, play and imagination all serve an important purpose,” said director Kaitlen Osburn. “I think ‘The Mischief Makers’ shows us that we don’t have to be serious all of the time.”

Despite acting in many plays and directing one 10-minute play prior to this one, Osburn has taken the reins of her first full directing project impressively.

“There’s a lot more to do when directing, she said. “It’s more stressful on me than acting but also much more rewarding. It will all pay off in the end though.”

For the last five weeks, the cast and crew gathered on the first floor of Gordon Wilson Hall to rehearse and hone the hour-long play to a fine point.

Including the four actors, the cast and crew numbers just 18 active participants with four faculty advisers helping in a hands-off capacity.

Bowling Green freshman Syleethia Holesome worked on both “Violet” and “The Mischief Makers” throughout October. She plays Nyame, the sky god, in the latter.

“With a small cast and crew, there’s so much more freedom and fun,” Holesome said. “Of course ‘Violet’ is wonderful, but ‘Mischief Makers’ is so much less stressful and more free-spirited.”

“As soon as I saw the script, I knew I had to do it. It just looked so fun.”

Holesome joins Molly Todd, a junior from Smyrna, Tenn.; Crescent Springs freshman Jon Meyer; and Mayfield junior Jamie Lopez in the four-person cast which brings the script to life. With over a month of hard work under their belts, all of that work culminates tomorrow.

The play will be showing at 4 p.m. tomorrow, 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12.

The show will be performed at Gordon Wilson Hall with no reserved seating for any show.

“Big Bob’s Brain Emporium” in December is the final play of the 2008 children’s theatre series.

Reach Aaron Burch at diversions@chherald.com.