Why would no less than Drama Desk Award-nominee Joel Jeske of New York City turn his talents to crafting an interactive melodrama to cap this weekend’s Tavern Day festivities by the Glen Ellyn Historical Society? His mother asked, of course.

Joel and brother Jim have helped Jean Jeske of Glen Ellyn support the society since she became active with the group two decades ago.

“I read the script and thought it was cute, but then I got the cast on stage and thought it was hysterical,” said director Ruth Wright of Glen Ellyn, former president of the society.

She said the cast is composed of veteran performers who add their creative juices to the collaborative, volunteer effort. Joel will be in town to view the production, and Jim is headed from California to reprise the role of Dr. Hackencoffin, the medicine man who appeared in last year’s inaugural Tavern Days show, also written by Joel. Hackencoffin will introduce and close the new play, and entertain during intermission. Joel, a working actor, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2008 for his off-Broadway play, “Cut to the Chase.”

“This is a fun raiser, not a fundraiser,” Jean Jeske said of Tavern Day’s afternoon of family entertainment, for which play ticket prices have been kept low, and all the other autumn festival events are free.

The melodrama is high energy, Wright said.

“There are a couple of chase scenes where everyone is running amok,” she said. “It’s just good old-fashioned fun, and you don’t find a lot of that today.”

Playing grandmother to the sweetly optimistic heroine, Goodness Hopencharity (played by Robin Hulshizer Nelson of Glen Ellyn), is Joe Maier of Glen Ellyn, who launched into the comic falsetto of Lavinia to relay some pertinent plot points.

“Lavinia sits by the fireplace and does her knitting, and is very happy when Goodness comes back from her latest escapade — from being blown up in a Chinese fireworks factory to being pushed down a hill on roller-skates,” he said. “Everybody is after her. The oily-haired misanthrope Craven Nepharious (played by Steve Blount of Wheaton, a fellow member of Wheaton Drama) wants the money. Brawnford Stalwart (John Weis of Glen Ellyn), one of the finest lumberjacks in the northern territories ... and lawman Rightful Measureman (Paul Metz of Glen Ellyn), they’re going after her hand.”

The plot thickens with the villainous machinations of Craven, whose henchman is Peevish Squirm (Mike Hopkins of Wheaton).

“It’s a wild time,” Maier said of the 40-minute comedy, which has musical accompaniment.

Performing the original score he crafted from old favorites will be pianist Chris Baumgartner of Winfield, alias Phineas Plunkett.

And engaging the audience’s shouted encouragement will be Susan Bell of Glen Ellyn in the role of Midge Dour, whose signs will signal the crowd to hiss, cheer or otherwise support the onstage action. Further spurring the audience will be costumed children, including the Nelson siblings, Dale, Kate and Hannah.

Last summer’s show was performed in a tent, but this season an ambitious set at the History Center will create the 1890s Prairie Flower Opera House, home to the Sweet Prairie Amateur Theatrical and Elocution Society.

Jean Jeske, producer, said the set crew members are drawn from her “league of extraordinary float builders,” who have helped design the society’s impressive Fourth of July floats.

The hometown construction talents include Peter Ladesic of Ladesic & Scott Builders, John Winans and Mike Bradley, an architect with an avocation for stage design.

Also involved are Wright, Bell and Jan Langford, along with Keith McClow of Lombard.

Working on lights is award-winning director Diana Martinez, who heads the Paramount Arts Centre in Aurora.

“Everybody is donating their time as a gift to the Historical Society,” Maier said of the community project. “It’s a way for people to come in and see that history can be fun.”

If you go

What: Glen Ellyn Historical Society presents an original melodrama by Joel Jeske, “Oh, My Goodness! or: A Villain’s Work in Vein!”

When: 1:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.

Where: History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn.

Tickets: $8, $4 for children 12 and younger. Call (630) 858-8696 for ticket information. Available at McChesney Miller and The Book Store in downtown Glen Ellyn.

Tavern Day festivities

Activities: Log sawing, rope making, candle dipping, stilt walking, fiber arts demonstrations, an Apple Festival Bake Sale, Uncle Jake and his spine-tingling tall tales, crafts, children’s projects, live animals, old-fashioned toys and games, quill pens and music. All ages are offered an experience of life in the 1890s. Refreshments include fresh-picked apples,  lemonade and homemade cookies prepared by Historical Society pie and pastry bakers. Coordinator is Suzanne Carty.

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.

Where: The backyard of Stacy’s Tavern Museum, 557 Geneva Road, Glen Ellyn.

Info: All activities are free. Donations welcome. Call (630) 858-8696.