Melodrama cast gears up for Weippe Camas Festival May 23-25
By Mike Green
Villainy, roguishness, romance and heroism all will be afoot on stage Memorial
Day weekend as the ever-popular melodrama will return once again to the Weippe
Camas Festival.
A cast of 10 characters plus extras is currently rehearsing two nights per week and soon moving to three night at the Weippe Community Hall, said Susie Larson, now in her fourth year as Camas Festival melodrama director.
Treachery at Cartilage Creek or Our Hero has a Bone to Pick will be presented Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m., all at the Community Hall during the three-day Camas Festival.
Leading the knavery on stage is villain Col. Rancidview, played by Allan Morris, and villainous Virginia Mayonnaise, played by Christen Lalonde.
Saving the day will be Weippe Mayor Norm Steadman, who plays hero Johnny Onthespot, and whose heart lies with heroine and school marm Crystal Clear, played by Christina Miles.
In an 1880’s setting, valuable dinosaur fossils are found in Cartilage Creek, an important water source owned by Widder Plunkett, played by Sheila Barteaux.
“Widder Plunkett is a good soul easily tricked,” Larson said.
Other characters in the production and their actors and actresses are Pecos Ferguson, played By Bill Barteaux; Beau Leggs, played by Jack Harney, Princess Purple Sage, played by Christian Vancorback; Letty Yodel, played by Kathy Waldron; and Minerva Parsnip, played by Jillie Stanley.
“We have some regulars returning, an they’re darn good at it”, Larson said. “And we’ve got some newcomers, and that’s always fun”.
Larson, who has 12 years of directing experience with the Orofino Civic Theater, said Tim Kelly wrote the melodrama.
Admission is free, although donations are accepted and are used to cover expenses.
Pictured above preparing for the Melodrama at Camas Festival on May 23-25 are Linda Wood, Sheila Barteaux, Bill Barteaux, Jack Harney, Kathy Waldron, Jillian Stanley, Christina Miles, Susan Larson- Director, Christen Lalonde, Kristina Vancorbach, Catherine Carlson and Norm Steadman. Not pictured is Cameron Summerfield. These actors are already preparing for this year's production of "Treachery at Cartilage Creek." Performance times are 7 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. All performances are at the Weippe Community Hall.