Small cast, big visions
The Thompson Falls community theater teamed up with local actors from around the county to present The Ballad of Gopher Gap, a two-act melodrama, at the fairgrounds in Plains on Saturday night to a packed pavilion.
The Thompson Falls community theater teamed up with local actors from around the county to present The Ballad of Gopher Gap, a two-act melodrama, at the fairgrounds in Plains on Saturday night to a packed pavilion.
The play was put on as a way to raise money for the Valley Vision Foundation, which has an ultimate goal of building a community theater.
"There are a lot of kids around here that love the theater, we just don't have much to work with," said Newman Ryan, Co-director of The Ballad of Gopher Gap, commenting on the need for a community theater as Sanders County is full of talented people.
Les Wood, organizer of the Valley Vision Foundation, made a brief introduction prior to the play, explaining his vision of creating not only a community theater, but a large community center in the local area.
"The reason why we invited everyone is because the Thompson Falls theater group needs a home. They need a place to practice and grow and display their talents and we need a place to go and appreciate those talents and we hope to do that by building a community center in Plains," said Les Wood.
Woods explained that the youth of the county needs a place to go for alternative activities and a place where clubs and residents can gather to hear speakers and hold meetings.
"People have been talking about this for 30 years. There is not original idea, but there are original people that make things happen and I believe I am one of those people, but I need your help," said Wood.
Ultimately, the community center will cost millions of dollars, however, Wood is confident that with perseverance, it is possible.
For now, 15 actors took the stage Saturday night to showcase their talents to a large audience with their hilarious rendition of The Ballad of Gopher Gap. The play was a western comedy about good and evil and "the true, the good and the beautiful will prevail."
The audience was able to partake in the hour and half long play, booing the evil and egging on the good. The play centers around Bunco de Sneer, played by Bill Eckloff, who is trying to trick rich easterners into making a false investment in his mine he has filled with fake minerals. Bunco and his evil cronies try and ward off Rocky Romance, played by Dave Oliver, a handsome mountain man and Verlinda Springblossom, played by Valerie Lanzoni, a beautiful woman who still believes in the good in the world. The duo tries to put a stop to the evil Bunco and mayhem ensues.
Through the action of the play, musical numbers, some original scores written by Dave Oliver, entertained audiences even more as they put a tune to the never ending battle of good verses evil.
"This is a really fun play, it's pretty cool," said Ryan.