The Great American Melodrama’s overall ethos, from the honky-tonk piano to the stained-wood décor, elicits memories of the Wild West popularized in film and stagecraft. That’s why, when the theater produces a Western-themed Melodrama, the welcoming actors bedecked in cowboy hats, boots, or gingham almost seem a part of the iconic little theater in Oceano.
The Saga of Roaring Gulch is the Melodrama’s current production, a hilarious satire of everything Western that remains a true Melodrama, which relies on cheers and jeers from the crowd in furthering the plot. The cast of familiar Melodrama faces give great heart to the over-the-top comedy that includes singing, dancing, fight scenes, and moments of great physical comedy.
The show opens with a rousing musical number utilizing the ensemble of seven actors accompanied by musical director and pianist Kevin Lawson, welcoming the audience to the western town Roaring Gulch, a place where whiskey flows freely and there’s a hanging every week. The protagonist is introduced with a rousing major chord and a flourish of gallantry; Wyatt Winchester (Jeff Salsbury) is the town’s marshal, defending law and order with his six-gun and thick-skulled naivety.
Wyatt is completely taken off guard and reduced to blathering at the sight and attention of Hilda Heartfelt (Katie Worley), the town’s schoolmarm of pure heart. The two share a fantastic and hilarious duet with the repeated chorus “Just you, my horse, and me,” showcasing both Salsbury’s and Worley’s vocal and comedic talents.
The starry-eyed lovers aren’t adored by all the town’s folks, unfortunately. The grim and menacing Bart Black (Alex Sheets) hates Winchester, and hopes to eliminate him, removing the competition to Hilda’s hand in marriage and her brother’s fortune. Black can’t defame and degrade the gallant marshal alone, so he calls on barmaid Calantha (Meggie Siegrist) for her talents of seduction.
In this way, Calantha is able to elicit a kiss from the marshal, just in time for Hilda to walk in on the indiscretion and disavow her feelings for Wyatt. The poor, hapless marshal, in a deep funk, further falls prey to Bart Black’s conspiracy by accepting a stiff drink from the villain, offered in feigned friendship. Black jumps on Winchester’s drunken demeanor to organize the townspeople and vote Winchester out of the position of marshal, comically electing the town postal worker and drunkard Hoot Hill (Andy Babinski).
The Saga of Roaring Gulch absolutely plays to the Melodrama’s strengths, from the beautifully painted backdrops by Brain Williams to the detailed costume work of Renee Van Niel. Supporting actors Toby Tropper and Tabatha S. Skanes fill out the story with a variety of characters each, all of which offer a specific silliness to the story.
The script by Jack L. Canon is peppered with the Melodrama’s regional jokes and jibes that will entertain Central Coasters and visitors to the area alike. The musical nature of the play is another facet the Melodrama revels in. Musical director Kevin Lawson even leaves the piano temporarily, taking the stage as a key character, and singing with the ensemble.
The evening of entertainment closes out with the Transportation Vaudeville Review, a wonderful exploration of all vehicles that traverse land, air, and sea. Singing, dancing, and other talents are showcased during the vaudeville, which further reminds of the tremendous concerted skill found onstage at the Great American Melodrama.
Arts Editor Joe Payne is always impressed by talent. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 14-21, 2015.