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Show j I I ! Tv IPapk IHiec:rdl lr ilLnDDiMlMjDil "i mi- iimiiww4 t ,1' !.' "... ! ft jj E. ' .'' jj, iiiumum ! 'How The West Was Sung' is a musical miracle tonic 1 f Y t , . 1. 1 ' V f ' Y V'C!K' 'Jmm" ff 2 :. i.- v -Y. c :.. - t '. v"-j 'i Y I Kid Scum (Don Gomes) takes on the town of Dry Rot in "How the West Was Sung." by Nan Chalat Remember when Kid Scum swore he'd get revenge for that bad piece of quiche he got last time he rode through the town of Dry Rot? And remember the day he got out of jail and headed back there to make good on his promise, the day Flash Flood rounded up his posse and saved the day? You don't? Well, perhaps Showdown at Dry Rot isn't one of the proudest moments mo-ments in western history but it's certainly cer-tainly one of the most entertaining. Fortunately, this little-known legend has been preserved by director Don Gomes, author Rick Brough and a cast of talented do-gooders and ne'er-do-wells . Dave Sturges, Marialice Cunningham, Val Thur-nell Thur-nell and Robert Smith. They bring the story to life every Saturday night at Prospector Square in the musical "How the West Was Sung." There we learn that it was actually Flash Flood (aka Dave Sturges) who started the one-white-glove fad long before little Michael Jackson started break dancing his way to fame and fortune. And we get to meet the charming citizens of Dry Rot including in-cluding Cecelia played by Marialice Cunningham, who is so relentlessly optimistic and sweet that a rattlesnake rat-tlesnake takes one nip of her fair hide and dies of a terminal sugar rush. Thanks to this original melodrama, the Kid and Flash won't be forgotten. And happily, neither will Dr. Algernon's Miracle Syrup, the saga of Daffodil Dogood and a medley of classic western ballads which are all part of the revue. The show premiered at Prospector Square last Saturday. The revue is a fast-paced, light-hearted light-hearted tribute to the West and comes complete with a barbecued chicken and ribs buffet dinner on the lawn next to the Prospector Athletic Club. The buffet opens at 5:30 p.m. and the one-hour show begins at 7 p.m. Under Don Gomes's skilled direction direc-tion the five-man cast springs to life with a rousing rendition of "There's a Meeting Here Tonight" and gallops through the lively combination com-bination of skits and songs offering a little something for everyone before wrapping up with "Goodnight Ladies." The production is a fine example of the virtue of small summer stock theater and of how much can be done with a small energetic cast. Thurnell, Smith, Sturges, Cunningham Cun-ningham and even Director Gomes have to wear several different hats during the course of the revue. Saturday night each one was donned and doffed without a hitch. Thurnell is obviously the old trooper of the cast. She portays the gossipy matron of Dry Rot with a confident swagger and her voice is a mainstay in the choral numbers. Cunningham's stage presence isn't nearly as self assured but her timid speaking voice comes off as a natural part of Cecelia's makeup. When Cunningham breaks into song, however, her voice is strong and clear. Dave Sturges is also a veteran of the local theater scene and his rich singing voice is a welcome ong in this production. "How the West Was Sung" gives Sturges, who is blessed with a tough Clint Eastwood jawline, a chance to step out of character. As the slightly limp-wristed Flash Flood, Sturges provides several of the comic highlights of the evening. High school student Robert Smith is a delightful addition to the cast. His young, innocent face earns him a tough assignment as the fall guy for Sturges but Smith survives the abuse with his sense of humor intact. He carries his own weight in the group and solo choruses and managed to crack up Saturday's audience with an impromtu dance number. Gomes is at home with a guitar strap over his shoulder and he provides the background music as well as a fifth voice for the revue. As the leading baritone for "I Was Born about 1000 Years Ago," "When the Saints Come Marching In," "You are My Sunshine" and "Goodnight Ladies," he makes outdoor theater seem like just another evening around the old campfire. Gomes was a little unsteady during the opening medicine man skit but it may be that the technical pressures of opening night and the conflicting responsibilities of actordirector distracted him. By the time Gomes and Sturges as the Kid and Flash crooned out an original version of "To All the Girls I've Known" Gomes was back in stride and even Julio would have shed a tear from laughing too hard. Despite its flirtation with cornball routines "How the West Was Sung" neatly avoids falling into the abyss of heehaw country humor. That it succeeds so effortlessly is due in no small measure to writer Rick Brough's rare wit. In working on the skits and various original lyrics, Gomes kept Brough from straying too far toward the obscure and the result is a zany ready-for-prime-time show. "How the West Was Sung" is now playing at Prospector Square. Tickets for the buffet and show are $14.95 for adults and $5.95 for children. Reservations may be made by calling 649-7100. The revue is scheduled to run Saturday nights through mid-September. |