Bump n' Cump Offer Encore of "The Mikado"

Director Tony Bump about to strike a blow.

The Wittiest Execution in Town!...AGAIN

After a very successful initial run and the Heathman Lodge in July, Pacific Stageworks is presenting Gilbert and Sullivan's “The Mikado”, September 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and September 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. Encore performances will be at the Love Street Playhouse (126 Love St.,  Woodland, Wash.).

“We have the same cast, the same fun, but at a different location,” says Producer, Jennifer Johnson. “The cast had a fabulous time, and the production was very well received by our audiences. We aren’t ready to give it up.”

Director Tony Bump places the performance of “The Mikado” in a modern cocktail party/fundraiser for a local theatre company. Audience members are encouraged to dress in a kimono and sing along with familiar songs such as “Three Little Maids from School,” “Tit Willow,” and “To Sit In Solemn Silence.” Many of the cast members have previously performed at Love Street Playhouse and are looking forward to reuniting with their northern friends.

Kiss and Kill 

“The Mikado” is set in the town of Titipu, where the tailor Ko-Ko (Tony Bump of Vancouver) is promoted to Lord High Executioner. His ward, Yum-Yum (Kristen Johnson of Vancouver), whom he plans to marry, has fallen in love with a traveling musician, Nanki-Poo (Will Johnson of Bellingham). Nanki-Poo is, in fact, the Mikado’s son, and has escaped the court to avoid the attentions of an intimidating older noblewoman, Katisha (Jennifer Johnson of Camas). Ko-Ko learns of a decree from the Mikado (David Hicks of Portland) that, unless an execution occurs within a month, the city will be reduced to the rank of a village. Neither the noble lord Pish-Tush (Gary Bock of Vancouver) nor the Lord High Everything Else, Pooh-Bah (IZ Darling of Portland), will volunteer to be executed. Complications occur with the arrival of the Mikado, accompanied by the ever-formidable Katisha.

Additional cast members include Jeanna Reed (Battle Ground), Kathleen Jung (Ridgefield), Ashley Hall (Bellingham), Garry Bastian & Zak Campbell (Vancouver), and Kaylen Ostrom (Camas).

Witty lyrics and brilliantly constructed plot twists make this light-hearted tale of forbidden love, deception, and beheadings a favorite among theatre-goers since 1885.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door. Audience members wearing a kimono will receive a $1 discount. Tickets may be ordered at www.pacificstageworks.com or 360-213-5174. 

Please do not contact Love Street Playhouse with questions.

REVIEW: Golden Garter Family Theater's "A Magical Melodrama" is a Magical Delight

“A Magical Melodrama” the comedy-spoof, magic-themed, melodrama presented by Golden Garter Family Comedy Theater opened last night for a three weekend run.

It’s been three years since the last production of this popular show and due to numerous requests from regular customers and patrons the show is returning to SW Washington, complete with magical illusions and a script loaded with local humor. Billed as "appropriate for all ages from 4 to 104" (my 14 year-old found it amusing), “A Magical Melodrama” follows the exploits of a young magician as he must clear his name after an older evil magician tricks him into taking over his name, reputation…and countless warrants for his arrest.

One Enchanted Evening

In a day when many theaters in SW Washington seem to want offer more angst, grit, darkness, edginess and what they call "meat," it's nice to be able to go to the theater and just be amused with good family fun. Bravo Golden Garter and Steve Taylor productions! And thank you.

Come and cheer the hero, boo the villain and help the cast advance the plot in this interactive comedy theater. And don’t be afraid to bring the kids, teens and grandparents as this show is “clean enough for kids,” yet “clever enough for adults!” Yay, it's pretty corny at times, but melodrama is supposed to be over the top, and it's good, clean laughs you won't feel guilty about.

One Magical Cast

The cast includes Darlene Taylor, David Roberts, Chrys Bignall, Marysa Lattiak, Duane Peterson, Karianne Morley and Jenna Bignall with writer-director Steve Taylor also joining in during the oleo.

Roberts, as the villain, is perfectly oily and rubber-faced. Comedy seems to suit him well and you could tell he was having fun. He was even quick with a few comeback to hecklers. Lattiak is at home in melodrama (this isn't her first) and seems to have the genre down. She's willing to go the extra mile and be self-deprecating. Morley, a Junior at Prairie High School (and part of Prairie-Ground Drama) had too small a role for her talent, but she gave it 100%. Everyone was good and those mentioned especially impressed me, HOWEVER...

It was Chrys Bignall who really made the show for me. He was simply charming as the hero and a mighty fine performer. The thing is this was his first role with Golden Garter (maybe melodrama) and he was ideal. You could almost hear the ding and see the glistening flash when he smiled.

One Charming Time

The melodrama runs about an hour and a half and, after a twenty minute intermission there is a twenty minute oleo (Yiddish for "stew" meaning all the extras). Stick around for the funny songs, corny jokes and some amusing ventriloquism from the delightful, always entertaining Steve Taylor.

The original production (written and directed by magician and entertainer Steve Taylor) plays 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights; 2 p.m., Sundays through May 19 at Love Street Playhouse, 126 Love Ave., Woodland Wash.

Advance tickets are $12 per person (available now at http://www.stevetaylorpro.com/GoldenGarter2.htm) and tickets at the door will be $15 for all ages.

Be sure and make room in your schedule for some good entertainment and take the kids--the whole family will enjoy themselves. I know I did.

Review by Gregory E. Zschomler

Steve Taylor's "A Magical Melodrama" Coming to Love Street Playouse

“A Magical Melodrama” the comedy-spoof, magic-themed, melodrama opens Friday, May 3 for a three weekend run at Love Street Playhouse in Woodland , Wash.

It’s been three years since the last production of this popular show and due to numerous requests from regular customers and patrons, the show is returning to Clark County. Billed as "appropriate for all ages from 4 to 104," “A Magical Melodrama” follows the exploits of a young magician as he must clear his name after an older evil magician tricks him into taking over his name, reputation…and countless warrants for his arrest.

Come and cheer the hero, boo the villain and help the cast advance the plot in this comedy interactive comedy theater. And don’t be afraid to bring the kids, teens and grandparents as this show is “clean enough for kids,” yet “clever enough for adults!” If it's anything like Steve Taylor's last show, you'll “laugh ‘til your cheeks hurt!”

The original production (written and directed by magician and entertainer Steve Taylor) opens Friday May 3 and plays 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights 2 p.m. Sundays through May 19. 

Advance tickets are $12 per person (available now at http://www.stevetaylorpro.com/GoldenGarter2.htm) and tickets at the door will be $15 for all ages. Love Street Playhouse is located at 126 Love Avenue in Woodland, Wash.

COMING SOON for the SW Wash. Spring 2013 Theater Season

Here's a list of shows you might want to catch this season. Can't decide? Read our upcoming opening night reviews.

HARVEY, opens April 5 at Love Street Playhouse (Woodland), directed by Christopher Cleveland.

Elwood P. Dowd is an affable man who claims to have an unseen (and presumably imaginary) friend Harvey — whom Elwood describes as a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall pooka resembling an anthropomorphic rabbit. Elwood introduces Harvey to everyone he meets. His social-climbing sister, Veta, increasingly finds his eccentric behavior embarrassing. She decides to have him committed to a sanitarium to spare her and her daughter Myrtle Mae from future embarrassment. When they arrive at the sanitarium, a comedy of errors ensues.

CAMELOT, opens April 12, presented by Rising Star Productions (Longview) at their theater in Three Rivers Mall (Kelso).

This beloved musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe, which played on Broadway for over 800 performances. It is the story of King Arthur, his lovely wife, Guenevere, and his best friend, Lancelot. King Arthur is determined to create a kingdom where might is used for right and the knights are a force for good. This musical includes songs such as: If Ever I Would Leave You, What Would the Simple Folk Do, The Lusty Month of May, How to Handle a Woman and many more.

THE SECRET GARDEN, April 12 presented by Stageworks Northwest (Longview). 

Winner of three Tony® Awards, this enchanting classic of children's literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of "'Night Mother." Orphaned in India, 11 year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate's many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the "Dreamers", spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life. "The Secret Garden" is a compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.

SHADOWLANDS, opens April 19 at Magenta Theater (Vancouver).

This West End and Broadway hit is the love story of C.S. Lewis - Oxford don and author of The Chronicles of Narnia - and American poet Joy Davidman. Lewis is smug in his convictions about God and His plan for the world until Joy and her young son enter his life. This is a deep, meaty and dramatic play that will touch you.

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, opens April 25 presented by Prairie-Ground Drama (Battle Ground).

"Once Upon a Mattress" features music by Mary Rodgers along with lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson and Dean Fuller. The musical original started life off-Broadway, before coming to the mainstream theater in 1959. The musical-comedy script is based on the classic fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea" and features a number of catchy songs. 

REASONS TO BE PRETTY, opens May 3 at the Clark Community College Decker Theater (Vancouver). Directed by Pat Rohrbach.

In "Reasons to Be Pretty," Greg’s tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his offhand remarks about a female coworker’s pretty face and his own girlfriend Steph’s lack thereof get back to Steph. But that’s just the beginning. Greg’s best buddy, Kent, and Kent’s wife, Carly, also enter into the picture, and the emotional equation becomes exponentially more complicated. As their relationships crumble, the four friends are forced to confront a sea of deceit, infidelity, and betrayed trust in their journey to answer that oh-so-American question: How much is pretty worth?

A MAGICAL MELODRAMA, opens May 3 at Love Street Playhouse (Woodland), presented by Golden Garter Family Theater. Written and directed by magician, ventriloquist and comedian Steve Taylor.

A comedy-spoof-magical adventure, fracturing for fun the conventions of the classic melodrama! The perfect family theater outing, “A Magical Melodrama” was a big hit in all of it’s previous presentations and now you can create a family-friendly event that will give you “memories that will last a lifetime!” Clean enough for kids, clever enough for adults, bring everyone to this hilarious spoof and “laugh ‘til your cheeks hurt!”

CLOUD 9, opens May 22 at the Rose Center for the Performing Arts, presented by Lower Columbia College (Longview). 

A time shifting British-African comedy by Caryl Churchill. Both parody and spoof of the 1880s Victorian Empire and its rigid attitudes towards sex. The play shifts twenty-five* years later to London in 1980 where all the characters' repressed sexual longings have evaporated along with the British Empire. (*Editor's Note: I know, I know, it's not a typo, it's a plot device.)

FUDDY MEERS, by David Lindsey-Abaire, opens May 31 at Serendipity Playhouse (Vancouver).

A woman with a rare form of amnesia wakes up every morning a blank slate. Her husband explains the situation, gives her breakfast and a book of essential information before taking his morning shower. As soon as he’s gone, a man claiming to be her brother arrives, telling her he’s there to rescue her. Like Alice through the looking glass, it’s there that her adventure truly begins.

Watch for our Reviews the day after opening night! If your play is not listed here and you would like it reviewed and advertised on our blog, contact us at swwastar@aol.com.

AUDITION NOTICE: Golden Garter Theater Announces Auditions for "A Magical Melodrama"

Attention friends and actors (and those of you who are both). Golden Garter Theater announces auditions for their original show "A Magical Melodrama" (coming in May 2013 to Woodland, Wash.)

If you are interested in auditioning to be in a fun fun show, please drop Artistic Director Steve Taylor a note immediately. Rehearsals will be in April, shows in May. Great parts still open. 

For more information contact Golden Garter through their Facebook page.