Grace Zimmerman, Sally Dunaway, John Dixon, and Sarah Hurlbert had a curious love quadrangle in Over and Up.

A firstful of hits took the stage at Cardinal Newman May 7, 8, and 9. Five comedies including "Over and Up" by Bill Majeski, "The Labors of Hercules Fitch" by Mark D. Kaufmann, "Mike's Case" by Christopher Schoggen, "The Lovesick Computer" by William Thomas Crow, and "Whodunit" by Anne Coulter Martens.

The first show of the night was "Over and Up" in which a certain Columbia Star reporter who shall remain nameless portrayed O.T., a charming but befuddled alien visiting from Apocryphal to study earthlings. During his stay on Earth O.T. gets up close and personal with three females of the species as he rapidly ages. George Kaupp (in a purple Teletubby head) humorously portrayed Queen Laguna, a role originally assigned to Caroline Maas, who was too ill to perform. O.T.'s nemesis Hampton was portrayed by Patrick Morris whose comedic timing was as usual excellent.

O.T.'s female companions were portrayed by Sally Dunaway, Grace Zimmerman, and Sarah Hurlbert. Kim Spade played a mathematically challenged teenager. The play even had its own version of "Men in Black" played by Rita El- Kabaaz and Johannes Linnan. In the end O.T. is recalled safely to his own planet, and Hampton receives his just desserts.

Zack Jones as Jake in Whodunit considers how to do "the job." Next up was "The Labors of Hercules Fitch." Chandler Pobis, in the lead role, delivered copious quantities of complicated dialogue and pulled off intricate blocking.

Hercules's trials were not confined to his job as a secret agent because he had a younger brother and sister to deal with at home. Hanna Lapp was an attitudinal teenager, but Nick Bozard stole the show as the six- year- old brother.

Solid performances were also turned by Zack Jones and California Torry. Jones portrayed several secondary characters with his usual flair, and Torry put Lara Croft to shame.

The third play of the evening was "Mike's Case," a cross between "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "High Anxiety." By the third night Patrick Morris as Mike had hit his stride and transformed the entire play into a knee- slapping comedy with ad- libs and slapstick. Morris was ably supported by a large ensemble cast. Matt Stokes and Austin Ramicone almost stole the show with their wardrobe choices and eccentric character portrayals.

Caroline Jett as the Student Elf in The Lovesick Computer. After a short intermission was "The Lovesick Computer." Nick Riccardi was in the lead role as David, Nerd Extraordinaire who invents a sentient computer that ultimately falls in love with him and causes supreme mischief. Andrea Law provided a serious counterbalance to the zany Riccardi. Lanier Smith with her sultry voice as Susan the computer almost stole the show without ever taking the stage. Derrick Britt who voiced Eddie the computer threw in some good natured jabs at the director. And Cornelius Leopold, the Psychotic Printer was a scream as he consumed the hapless cheerleader portrayed by Kim Mason.

The final play of the night was "Whodunit," which revolved around the murder of a despicable vermin. Nic Smith, who portrayed the narrator, seemed to be a cross between Alfred Hitchcock and Rod Sterling. Throughout the play everyone assumes that quarrelsome Uncle Eben, played by Patrick Owens, would be the victim, but in a twist it was he who did the deed. Key characters included the family: "Sweet" Alice (Lanier Smith), Grandma (Jasmine Gunter), dour butler Featherstone (Alex Jones), and demure maid Harriet (Kate Tringali). The group of fearless detectives who started out sitting with the audience were not highly successful in solving the case but provided significant comic relief.

Harriet (Kate Tringali) fixes Grandma's ( Jasmine Gunter) hair for Whodunit. The funniest moments in the play were courtesy of Jake the hired killer (Zack Jones) and Malcolm the besotted banker (Nick Bozard). These quirky characters kept things lively.

For the second year in a row the dress rehearsal was a disaster, but in the end the final performances drew high praise. Rumor has it that Boos may try something serious next year.