Paradise Players gather laughs

The two newest members of the Paradise Players – and the youngest of the troupe – loved being on stage for last week's "The Treasure of Shiver River" and plan to be involved with future plays at the Paradise Center.

It had all the makings of a successful melodrama – a villain and a hero, romance, comedy, and even a hidden treasure. A dozen local men and women took to the Paradise Center stage for three performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday, provoking big laughs each time, especially Sunday, said Mary Lou Hermes, who directed the play.

"The audience really got into it on Sunday, booing the villain every time he came out," said Hermes, who has been directing plays since the 1970s. This is her fifth play at the Paradise Center. Hermes said she looked through about 25 scripts before selecting "The Treasure of Shiver River," which takes place in the old west at the Shiver Valley Hotel, owned by Lotta Luck, a recovering gambler played by Sharon Murray. Rod Enreel, aka Michael Murray, Sharon's real life husband, plays the villain, complete with the standard bad guy black garb. He even used a plant in the audience, Doug Wilks, to give an evil laugh when queued. Wilks also worked the lights.

Enreel would do just about anything to get the ranch belonging to Colonel Ticonderoga Sanders, played by Butch Murdock, so he could lay his hands on the long lost treasure, thought to be hidden there. His scheming plans included trying to win the hand of Sanders' daughter, Heidi Claire Sanders, played by Tierra Person. Enreel also promised he'd marry his secretary, Paige Turner, aka Debbi Kirschbaum, while also vowing to wed the fake physician, Dr. Ophelia Payne, played by Patty Johnson, if she would help delay the scheduled cattle auction by getting auctioneer Rusty Nail, aka Mike Thompson, sick. The delay would mean Sanders couldn't sell his cattle and he'd lose the ranch to Enreel. Getting the auctioneer sick made his wife, Gail Nail (Gayle Ruguleiski) have to care of him. Prospector Orin Gold (Harry Ihms) and his sidekick Burlap Bonnie (Deborah Davis) were also searching for the treasure and newspaper reporter Scoop O'Malley (Kathleen Hubka) was trying to get a good story.

Meanwhile, the unknown hero of the story, Marshal Marschall Law, played by Jubal Ryan, was trying to buy a ring back from Lotta Luck so he could ask Heidi to marry him. He sold everything he had to get the ring and in the end, it was the ring that had the exact location of the treasure, foiling all of Enreel's evil plans. The play, written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus, went nearly two hours and included a role by the audience, which tossed a crumpled copy of the fake treasure map at Enreel at the end.

Hermes was pleased with the performance and said all of them are fine actors. "It was a big crowd pleaser; everyone laughed," she said, adding that someone on Sunday told her she had no idea there was so much talent in Sanders County. Only around 25 people attended the play Friday. On Saturday, there were almost 50, but on Sunday, Hermes said there were more than 50.

The audience was given an extra treat during intermission. Hermes recited a short comedic story called "Fletcher and Cracker." Murdock and Thompson sang "Cool Water" and Ryan sang "Red River Valley," prompting his father, Craig, to accompany him on stage Friday.

The 19-year-old Jubal Ryan is a veteran actor with about 50 plays under his belt, acting since he was 5 or 6 years old. This was his first time to work with the Paradise Players and he hopes it's not the last. However, the 2018 Plains High School graduate will be touring with the Missoula Children's Theatre next year for a performance of "Newsies." He'll also be touring Europe with Voyagers International.

It was the first time for Tierra Person to work with Hermes and the Paradise Players, although she was part of the Plains High School Drama Club. "I had a lot of fun and I love the stage," said the 22-year-old Person. It was also a first for Nora Verpoorten to serve as assistant director. Verpoorten has been in several plays, but would like to continue in the directing role. This was also the first time that Hermes used a piano for the sound effects. She said they normally have computer-generated special effects, but she liked using the piano.

Hermes said she'd like to see more people take part in the plays, particularly young people. She'd also like to see more people attend the plays, if for no other reason than to showcase local talent. Hermes said there will be three one-act plays next spring and although she won't be directing she plans to be involved. She already has plans to direct another melodrama next October.