The Great Western Melodrama

by Florence Huntington Morris

June 17-18, 1988

Directed by Earl Westerng

The Great Western Melodrama has the usual quota of stereotypical characters - the sneering villain, the helpless maiden, the steadfast hero - but owing to an unfortunate twist of fate, the troupe of touring actors scheduled to present this epic work can't make it. Since the show must go on, a substitute cast is hastily assembled to fill in. Unfortunately for them - and fortunately for the audience - they're, well, let's just say they're not very good. But what they are is uproariously funny.

The original cast has been quarantined and the stage hands, promptress, et al., have stepped into the roles so that the play might go on-- horribly miscast and unrehearsed. It is the story of how Daisy wins her poet lover, Filbert Fearless, over the objections of her hard hearted father. Though the cast forgets its lines, and the sound effects go wrong, the scene wherein Filbert, single handed, captures that villainous jail breaker, Two gun Percy, is beyond words!

The Cast

Master of Ceremonies, Director of Play…………Earl Westereng

Filbert Fearless, Our Hero…………Renee Thorness

Daisy McSkew, His Sweetheart…………Bernadene Gortler

Mrs. Abigail McSkew, Her Mother…………Mary Kay Evanson

Mr. Mortimer McSkew, Her Father…………C'Dale McBride

Oswald, Slugfest, another Suitor…………Sarah Haugen

Two Gun Percy, Our Villain…………Sharon Hoglund

The Staff

Director…………Earl Westereng

Set Design…………D.W. Groethe

Sound Technician, Promptress, Program…………Sarah Jane Johnson

Costumes…………Lynn Mendro

Props…………Sharon Hoglund, C'Dale McBride