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Theater review: Melodrama’s ‘Rough and Ready’ is gold

By Brad Memberto/Staff Writer/bmemberto@santamariatimes.com

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Sheriff Bartly Townsend (Andrew Beck) finds himself torn between mysterious Eugenia Jones (Katie Worley, left) and vivacious Lotta Crabtree (Natasha Harris) in the Great American Melodrama’s “Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready,” on stage through Sept. 15. / Gary Adams/Contributor

With an opening night crowd booing, hissing and cheering on cue, the new play at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, “Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready,” got off to a rousing start June 18.

Written and directed by former artistic director and frequent contributor Neal LaVine, “Gold Fever” is a good traditional melodramatic production. There are good guys, bad guys, damsels in distress and goofy characters that fill the stage with lots of energy and comedy.

And some of the story in the play is based on fact. There is a town in Northern California called Rough and Ready. It was a mining town formed by a mining company from Wisconsin, and it did try to secede from the United States because of new mining taxes and Prohibition.

They quickly rescinded the secession when they found they would not be able to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Those interesting facts are blended into the play by LaVine. The play is a well written piece with witty dialogue and several good twists and turns.

Andrew Beck returns to the Melodrama stage as the town sheriff and play narrator Bartly Townsend. Beck is a charming actor who blends an earnest, heroic quality to the dimwittedness of his character. He is attracted to the two girls in town, Lotta Crabtree the saloon owner, played by the sassy Natasha Harris, and a helpless blind newcomer, Eugenia Jones, played by Katie Worley.

Harris is a funny actress who also sings well and shows a lot of heart. Worley is a lovely and outstanding comedic actress who handles the physical comedy well, and she is solid here.

The villain Phileas Cramner is played by Chuck McLane, who relishes the boos he receives from the crowd. McLane is always spot on in his performances, and is very good here. He also appears early in Act I as Scabby Jones, an intregal plot point.

The cast is rounded out by three very funny and capable comedians, long-time contributors Billy Breed, John Keating and newcomer Casey Ross. All three are given moments to shine. In his second show at the Melodrama, Ross has fit right in.

The costumes by Rene Leatham are outstanding, as is the set design.

The Vaudeville Revue, written by Musical Director Jordan Richardson and Artistic Director Eric Hoit, and also directed by Hoit, is called “I Wanna Be Bad — The Villain’s Vaudeville Review.”

It follows Snow White (played by Worley), who has decided to become a bad girl. She is trained by many famous villains, led by Ross as a hysterical and flawless Doctor Evil, from the “Austin Powers” movies.

There is outstanding choreography designed by Michael Jenkinson, and it is handled well by the cast.

Keating as Captain Hook has a very funny solo, and Breed is a scream as Ursula the Sea Witch from “The Little Mermaid.” There is a skit that involves Batman and Robin (Beck and Keating) matching wits with the Joker, Catwoman and the Penguin (McLane, Harris and Breed).

Overall, the show is entertaining and fun, and the audience interaction with Beck is a big bonus.

BOX OFFICE

TIMES: “Gold Fever at the Rough and Ready” and “The Villain’s Vaudeville Revue” will run through Sept. 19. Beginning July 16, the show will alternate with the Melodrama’s second summer show, “Rip van Winkle.” Performances are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 6 p.m. Sundays, at the Melodrama on Highway 1 in Oceano.

TICKETS: Tickets cost $17 or $20, with discounts available for seniors, students, children and groups.

CONTACT: For more information or to make reservations, call the Melodrama Box Office at 489-2499.