Have you ever had the urge to get noisy during a theatrical performance or even go back to the days when the audience cheered the hero and booed and hissed the villain?  Well now is your chance.  The audience can participate like this during the performance of "Curse You, Jack Dalton!" and "Egad, What a Cad!"  These are two short plays written in the melodramatic style.  Some might ask, "What is that?".  Just like most things in life, acting and theater have gone through styles.  From the ancient classical antiquity of the Greek theater to the realism and naturalism of today, the theater and acting have progressed through many styles.

 

During the late nineteenth century romanticism and melodrama were in style.  Has anyone ever said to you, "Stop being so melodramatic."?  What that means is "stop overacting" or "take it in a notch".  During this period, characters in plays tended to be "one-dimensional".  In other words, either good or bad, and good was always expected to triumph over bad.  This style of acting emphasizes intense emotional expression, rhythmic and melodic vocal delivery in a highly elevated manner.  This should be accompanied by sweeping, flowing movements and gestures that are large and stylized. 

 

The audiences in the late nineteenth century took their melodrama very seriously.  When it is done today it usually is performed for a comic effect.  That is what we are doing with these two short melodramas.  We want the audience to have fun and participate by letting the villain know how they feel.  He just might let them know back!

 

- Gary VanBuskirk, Director

CAST

CHARACTERS

Mrs. Donna Dalton - Mary Kibbe

Eloise Dalton - Lisa Martek

Jack Dalton - Steven Johnson

Anna Alvarado - Jennifer Harrison

Egbert VanHorn - Tom Crosby

Bertha Blair - Kelly Spangler

Richard Blair - Jordan Liabenow