First Play of the Season Offers Flavorful Delight

Over the River and Through the Woods, a play written by Joe DiPietro, will open on February 24.  The flavor is served up at Grandmother’s boisterous Italian family dinner table, where the action takes place.

“This play is a hilarious family comedy for everyone to enjoy.  It’s a real laugh feast. You’re sure to be delighted from the moment you walk in the door.  Enjoy!” says director Robert Barker who in his regular life is a manager at Genie Industries.

Nick, played by Eric Van Woert, arrives to have dinner with all four of his grandparents as he does every Sunday evening.  In this household, family ties and love are expressed with food.  When generations collide over how life should be lived, there is always fettuccini alfredo.  When the grandparents can’t accept their diminishing abilities, there is always provolone on fresh bread from Marzoni’s bakery, and fond but not so flattering old family stories to share or to embarrass each other.  When everybody is talking and no one is understanding, then it’s “Please pass the bottle of Chianti.”   In spite of the joking and misunderstanding, reality pierces through like a shaft of light, which contrasts with the comedy, and enriches it in the process.

The grandparents are played by some of the Columbia Basin’s most experienced comedic actors including Bob Jasman and Cheri Barbre, who knew how to keep the audiences laughing in last year’s musical, Anything Goes. Randy Brooks, who played the irascible Jewish father last season in Visiting Mr. Green, and Barbara Sloan, another Masquers’ veteran who knows her way around comedy, play the other two grandparents.  Stephanie Moore plays Caitlin, a member of the younger generation.

The schedule for performances is:  8PM, February 24-25; March 3-4; 10-11; and 17-18, with Sunday matinees at 3PM on March 12 and 19.  All tickets are $10.  You can make reservations by calling the box-office at 246-2611.

Winners Step Into the Spotlight

Randy Johnstad, Facility Manager, was awarded the MOPET (Masquers Outstanding Participation and Esprit in Theater) this year at Masquers’ annual Awards Ceremony.  He was recognized for his inspired work in almost every aspect behind the scenes.

 Alex Garnett won the Best Script Writer award for On the Other Hand, one of the four one act plays he wrote for last summer’s production. 

 Randy Brooks was a big winner.  He won Best Actor for his portrayal of the cranky Mr. Green in Visiting Mr. Green, and also received Best Director for Anything Goes.  Beverly Hasper also won Best Director for Visiting Mr. Green.  The Best Actress award went to Jennifer Jessen, the flamboyant barmaid in Picasso at the Lapin Agile.  Karen Kinch won Best Actress/Actor in a musical as Reno, the nightclub owner and part time missionary in Anything Goes.  She also won Best Singer.

 Best Supporting Actor went to Bob Jasman, the inspector in Dial “M” for Murder.

Emily Rose Shotwell won Best Supporting Actress for On the Other Hand.  Best Supporting Actor in a musical was a shared award between Bob Jasman and Eric Van Woert, both for Anything Goes.  Cheri Barbre won Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.  The Most Promising New (to Masquers) Award went to Darryl Pheasant.  Brightest New Face (male) is Joshua Matheson for Anything Goes, and female, Amy Hill, On the Other Hand.

 Randy Johnstad won Best Set Design for Anything Goes.  Robert Barker won Best Sound Design for Picasso at the Lapin Agile.  Best Graphic Design went to Ken Greene for Anything Goes. 

John Glassco and Bob Leonard were inducted into the Hall of Fame for their many years’ work in the theater.

Other awards were:  Cindy Ray, event planning; Lynn Witham, stage managing:  Denise Keegan, costumes; Mary Ackerman, grants; Becky Morris, organizing; Don Johnstad, sound; Bobbi Christie, box office; Eileen Beckwith, appreciation; Shirley Therens, making tickets; Priscilla Asker, bookkeeping,  and Beverly Hasper, newsletter.

Won’t it Sound Sweet
By Beverly Hasper

              When I caught up with Don Johnstad to ask him about the new sound system currently being installed at the Jolly Theatre building, he was sitting in the light and sound booth admiring the large and impressive mixer board.  

            “ I have never had this quality of sound equipment to work with,” He told me with a pleased smile. “This system has the capability of producing the same quality of sound as you would find in a recording studio.” 

            As a highly respected professional musician, Don has worked with many sound systems, and besides being the person with the smooth and gracious stage presence who plays the guitar and sings beautifully, he has also been the guy who tinkers with the sound equipment. 

            “What is it that makes it so good?” I asked him.

            “The system is made by McCauley, which has long been a name synonymous with quality in the sound business. They are on the cutting edge of new sound theories from Los Angeles.”  He was really warming up to his subject now.   “Our array of speakers is designed to go together in such a way that each one strengthens the other. The system comes with a state of the art processor that matches phasing of the frequencies so that when it arrives at the listeners’ ears, it will all be there at the same time.”

            “Okay ….”  I pondered the concept, wondering if I had been hearing music with parts of it reaching my unsuspecting ears at different times.

            “It can handle sound from very soft to very loud with the same clarity.  And it just….. Well, it just sounds sweet.”

            Don is also on the Board of Directors at Masquers, and is a masseur and co-owner with Katiy Trantham of Healing Waters Spa.

2006 Winter and Spring at the Jolly Theater

Over the River and through the Woods, a play by Joe DiPietro, directed by

            Robert Barker

            8:00 P.M.       February 24-25; March 3-4; 10-11; and 17-18

            3:00 P.M.       March 12 and 19

 The Land of the Dragon, a play by Madge Miller, directed by Randy Johnstad

            7:30 P.M.       April 7; 14-15; and 21-22

            3:00 P.M.       April 8-9; 15; and 22-23

 Pavlo Concert

            3:30 P.M.  and 7:30 P.M.  April 29

 Hollywood Arms, a play by Carrie Hamilton and Carol Burnett, directed by

            Beverly Hasper

            8:00 P.M.       May 19-20; 26-27; June 2-3; and 9-10

            3:00 P.M.       May 28 and June 4

Rose Lundberg is Lobby Artist

            The paintings by Rose Lundberg show her deep love of the natural world, from ocean beaches to flower filled gardens.  Her work has been displayed in many art shows around the Northwest.   She is an active member of The Art Guild of Soap Lake Area. Fae Drennan, through the auspices of the Art Guild, arranges the art displays in the lobby.

Website Has New Look

            If you have visited the Masquers’ website, www.masquers.com, lately, you have seen that it has a new look.  Don Long is responsible for it and we can expect more and better to come.