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Show Your mission, Parley? Book II original Park Record Thursday, February 13,1986 Page C1 son I, KICKBBOUill ,.,rr 11 Him- IIiTiiriiM" performances new pro- -This is the mice, lsook several advances I wo love It includes Park Cit (net ion ,i ins made 1 musical. "This is 11VIT uic ' ... piafp " It features ,..rii instead ol Original songs by Richard Jewkes. opposed lo I he song parodies of Book I." And Parley, the naive yormon missionary, has become ,lt.ol that unique species-- the Park Citv businessman. Bui most important to playwright mid Fleisher. the play is a genuine musical comedy cast in a realistic. I,UI humorous, vein. "I'm much more excited about 'Book II."' said Heisher. who wrote it with Mike Plullipsand Richard Jewkes. Heisher said the play was some of ;he hardest-and most satisfy-jtf-work of his life. "I feel a lot proud- (f 01 mis, man ui place." he said. He also helped produce the play. II will be interesting to see how the audience reacts to something other than light, flippant schtick." he said For Phillips, the play is "up. light, lunny." In "Book II." Parley Lamar has finished his mission, but eight months later, he returns to his Park City iriends and opens the first LDS bookstore in town. He tells his parents back in Idaho that he's seeing a nice Mormon girl, when he's really continuing his relationship rela-tionship with Jennifer, his waitress sweetheart from "Book I." He also tells them the bookstore is doing well Actually, it's faltering. 'Ts' To poke gentle fun with three-part romance gs, I y o-aiillioi' David Fleisher think people will walk humming the music." : "I out Barton doesn't mind the drive from his Peoa home because it's "quality mind time." Robertson said she uses the drive to study her lines. Robertson said she is a homegrown home-grown Mormon, like Rariawn, but in recent years she has become more like Jennifer. She said her character is drawn to Parley because he's a challenge. She's had flings with guys like Biff. "But Parley's such a cute, sincere guy." In real life. Barton said, he's more like Parley than Biff. He thinks his 'haraeter is running around with lienlile Jennifer because "he's drawn to charismatic people." The cast of "Th's is the Place" also includes actors who are familiar to "Place" fans -and local ' heater-goers in general.' The double-east role of Jennifer is also played by Ruth Ann Fitzgerald, who played the role in "Book I" more often than any other actress except Leslie Luyken. Curt Graf, who created the role of Biff Johnson, continues his sleazy character's adventures in "Book II " Dave Sturges. the original Seymour Bucks, was a bit of a peripheral character in the first play But now he becomes a central antagonist Clyde Nelson, the man with the Spencc Kinard voice, returns as Rulon Pratt. The original Rulon, Rai French, is reincarnated as another I Parley's authority figures his lather. Ezra Linda Martin, as mother Emma Lamar, is new to "Place." but she has been in such Park City productions as "Once t'pon a Mattress" and "A Funny I'hing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Chorus members Mike Robinson and Maree Plunkett are familiar to local audiences. In last year's "Chicago." for example, he was dorky husband Amos and she was a fiery murderess. Two new actors are Marie Porret-ta Porret-ta -who comes from New York for the Park City skiing and Chris Isakson of Seattle. Both work at I leer Valley Resort. The play also has a three-piece orchestra or-chestra under the direction of Michael Johnson. Fleisher praised the original songs by Jewkes and said. "I think people will walk out humming the music." "This is the Place, Book II" opens Friday, Feb. 14. at 7;30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre on Main Street. It will run every Friday and Saturday night through March 29 at 8 p.m. For more information, call Pam Foyster at the Egyptian Theatre, V I'laywrighlKPCW disc jockey Alike Phillips calls new musical "light. tinny. .1 (Mvkesbox : Director Kichard Jewkes wrote the tunes for "Place II." and his landlord. Seymour Bucks, is planning to toreclose on Parley as part of his plan to bring Las Vegas to Park City. Parley's lolks show up "They re used to show you why Parley is the wav he is." said Phillips. Bishop Rulon Pratt has already been pressuring Parley to lollow the -traiiiht and narrow. Add his parents to the scene and he s "stuck lielweeen a rock and a hard place, said Phillips riii're is a nice Mormon girl on the -cene conservative Coalville hspalchcr Kadawn T. Marriott. But she is attracted to Bill Johnson, the I 'ark City slu kster who now trades in rare Mormon documents! Why does she like Bill? "Love at 'u'sl sight." said Elizabeth Clarke, a '(wcomer lo the Park City stage-w stage-w ho plays Radawn . The character -lavs with her Mormon standards, said Clarke, but she is attracted by Bill s spunk and charm. Plus, she -aid. Kadawn is gullible Still, she s open enough In lall lor a auv who's rompletelv unlike her. she nldod. ( larke has lived m Park City lor . two ears she s an ambassador at !ocr Valley. Before that, she lived 1 1 Sail Lake t ilv most ol her lite. I-or her. Kadawn is intriguing and inn And a a non-Mormnn. Clarke ha- a chance to poke a little lun at the culture around her. Randy Barton i Parlev and Bar ' ara Robertson iJenniuTi play Ihe unlikely lovers. In real hie, they are I'otli Summit County residents who ronimule lo obs m Salt Lake City."- rv i i I i --r4. vs .. , yj , , 1 f ii L-'"JL-it I -i . 'ettini it i if lit : (Left to riuht) actors M.u ie Porreita, Mike lluhinson. Kaiul 11111 1' itziierald and Curt (ira'l' liai'toli. :" 'J ' - . ' t ' 'J t NL- t v f . A : " i ' Y - - A ' v J J ; ... - n t I TT? 1! f - ri ' if - iCS-' '- ; v. 1 . ; v.; ri nr i t. 1 HI i1 I ; - t-s : 1 f I f - i.y 4 ! ' II ) 1 r: p. tr i x II' 1 WMMvmum ariMfri iii ii i nmmmimmm3esjmii- - "ir mtm i rfi"""--"- . t, nun nun Mna.i irlimm r t ---i-t - ---f .,s Parlev a listen to hands-on dii 1 el's try it this wav rehearse w ith tiuidan left. to ri-'hU Kandx Marlon e I'rom director Mit hard Jew ki nd Curl (ii al' as Mill Johnson s- -J . I I x 1. J I t ' - ii. 4 v ,i : ?i .Ns f N 1-'' ".'! fk..r-1 c -: ; i ft- - photos by Neal Palumbo |