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Show Road Agents Draw Big Crowds " The River Canyon Road Agents are drawing bigger Main Street crowds each weekend, and expnding their schedule of Old West encounters. Stuntmen president Roger Clark explained, "The difference between us and other similar groups is that we use closeup realism and stunts which will grow more specialized and sophisticated as we go. Several of our members are terrific actors, and we're developing good street and barroom theatre." For example, Roger has been perfecting his fake blood formula for six months and was finally satisfied with its authenticity last weekend. He thinks that reenacted crimes of 100 years ago provide a positive, rather than an upsetting experience for the audience. "Everybody accepts the Western as a fantasy. I don't like violence myself, but doing . this kind of show, which is a heritage and a fantasy, we help people escape into the past. We perform close-up realism as it happened. After the show is over people come back to reality and we all stand up, and it's not a matter of grossness. Instead, people always say, "It was so real, how do you make it so real?" He believes that by performing brawls, shootouts and robberies, "We let people relive the past and experience its wildness. The special effects totally involve people they're there and affected by what's happening even though they know its just a show." He's done hundreds of interviews with spectators to learn the psychology of what works and . what doesn't. "When we come into town on Saturday morning, we are in costume and in character, and we stay that way until we leave Sunday night. This gives people the feeling that the past is living and mingling with them." Although the rough stunts and realism employed by the group has led to several injuries. Roger is unruffled. "Part of stunt work is to do the job well to make people happy. I remember a line from Shakespeare: "Do well your part, for there the honor lies." The River Canyon Road Agents are very pleased with audience response and involvement. "We intend to build business in Park City to where there's no more room. We love the people of Park City and the support we've been getting, and we'll die trying," Roger said. The William Rixeys have been lodging the Agents .for free, and the Motherlode and Eating Establishment Have been donating many meals. The schedule for this weekend's new shows is as follows: SATURDAY: 1:30 p.m., Iron Hollow Robbery 2:30 p.m. Family fued over wedding at old sheriff's office. 3:30 p.m., Main Street Procession and hanging. SUNDAY: 11:30 a.m., argument inside the Eating Establishment, Establish-ment, settled outside. 1:30 p.m. gang showdown from both ends of Main Street working toward the middle. 2:30 p.m. Fight at the Motherlode. 3:30 p.m. hanging on Main Street. |