The play takes place in present day Dead Man’s Gulch, an old west town that’s been bought by the villainous Mel Evolant (Sandy Hartley). Mel and her accomplices, Claire Voyant (Karen Hamilton) and Manny Fest (Matt Cline) hatch a plot to find the treasure of the old west outlaw Willie the Kid (Lacey Snyder). To accomplish this Mel needs a ring owned by a history teacher named Archie Ology (Jackson Aukerman), who brings a few students and the school librarian Dustee Tome (Danielle Sink) along for the ride. The plan only becomes more complex when more guests show up, including an explosion happy movie producer, old west obsessed fanatics, and a bickering married couple on their way to the honeymoon. Very soon the whole Inn is full of crazy characters and spooky sounds as all kinds of haunted hijinks break loose.
The rest of this fun and talented cast include the three students: Jennifer Gibson as Velma Blake, Drew Burns as Ray Spangler, and Mike Hamilton as Casper Spectral. Dan Cline plays the crazed groundskeeper Hannibal Poe, while Simon Hoying and Did Howell bring to life Hector Plasm and Levy Tation, the argumentative couple. Trevor DeSchepper and Connie DeSchepper play Michael Day and Cam Eras, the loud mouth movie producer and his camera woman, while Mark Howell plays the bumbling Sheriff Smith N. Wesson. Rounding out this fun filled cast is Abby Kindley, playing Perry Normal, and Lacey Snyder also playing Abby Normal, the old west fanatics.
This play was written by Arcanum resident and DCCT member Jackson Aukerman. This is Jackson’s third melodrama with the group in as many years, and previously to that was a four year member of the Arcanum High School Drama Club. He has enjoyed being a member of the group, and has a lot of fun every year spending the summer with the group working on the play. Jackson is very excited and honored to have his play being produced by the group, and is very happy to have such a great cast putting on the show. He hopes to see many members of the community there to hopefully have a few good laughs and enjoy the show.
The first show is July 24th at 7:30 pm, with following shows on the 25th at 7:30 pm, July 26th at 3 and 7:30 pm, and July 27th at 1 pm. The melodrama is free to watch with a paid admission to the festival. For more information you can contact the director Dane Leeper at (937) 621-4916, or go to www.darkecountycivictheater.org. For information on the Annie Oakley festival visit www.annieoakleyfestival.org. The Civic Theater is very excited to bring the community this fun filled melodrama and hopes to see many people there.