Onion Skin Players get ready for opening night on March 1

The Ilustrious Onion Skin Players have been rehearsing for weeks in anticipation of opening night on Friday, March 1, at the historic Star Theater in downtown Weiser.

 The Onion Skin Players, many of whom are veteran stage performers, never fail to deliver an entertaining live show. 

 The production of “The Clock Runs Out for Sarabelle Tyme” or “Ask Not for Whom the Belle Strolls?” continues a tradition of staging melodramas that goes back more than 30 years. 

 The cast members were in full makeup and costumes on Sunday for the first dress rehearsal. Monday night was another dress rehearsal and Tuesday night was a complete run-through of the production from start to finish. Family night is Wednesday and opening night is Friday.

 The production will feature some new actors on stage and helpers working behind the scenes. The cast is larger than last year’s production of “Zorro,” and the cast members come from all over the area, from Midvale to Nyssa to Payette. 

 The acting troupe is trying something new this year. Pam Lakey, Lisa Meyer and Debby Enright will co-direct the play and Patsy Jo McMichaels and Megan Wilson are co-directing the olios, which are short musical skits or vignettes between the main acts of the play. 

 With co-directors, the duties can be split up and make it a bit easier on everyone, especially since some of the directors are also in the play or olios, Megan Wilson said. 

 She said on Sunday that the production was coming together nicely in time for opening night. The actors have their lines memorized and are getting their timing down between the many fast costume changes that happen during the play.

 “It is going to be a great show with some really funny and entertaining olios,” Patsy Jo McMichaels said.

 The Onion Skin Players perform in the “grand manner” of melodrama, a fun and sometimes noisy style of live theater that dates to the late 19th century. Melodramas were popular stage shows from about 1870 through 1915 or so. 

 The players use exaggerated motions and expressions and engage with the audience members both before and during the show. The audience is encouraged to boo and hiss the villain and cheer on the hero. The shows are family friendly and engaging for all ages.

 The Onion Skin Players try to stay authentic to the era of the melodrama as live entertainment with the costumes and makeup. Close attention to detail goes into everything from the feathers in the ladies headpieces to the shine of the hero’s boots. Lots of sequins and jewels are a must. The sparkles of the jewelry and the “swoosh” of the villain’s cape all help draw the audience into the performance.

 Some of the Onion Skin Players are stage veterans and have been doing the melodramas for 18 years. The nonprofit troupe’s first melodrama was staged in January of 1985. 

 Every melodrama has villian and a hero. The hero this year is the handsome and dedicated Sheriff Sterling Goodlah. He is out to rid the town of corruption and win the girl. Audience members can cheer him on with a “Hip Hip Hooray”

 The villian is a dastardly dude, who is described as greedy, selfish and egotistical. He wants the money, jewels and the girl. Will he succeed? Will he win the girl?  Come boo and hiss at him and let him know his underhanded antics are not appreciated.

 The play also features the mysterious Fortuna Proficia who can do palm readings or sell you a health, wealth, luck or love charm. She will be out and about at times with her crystal ball.

 The performances are March 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, and 17. Doors open 7 p.m. for evening shows and 2 p.m. for the Sunday matinee shows. A second Sunday matinee show was added on March 17. Tickets are available online at www.illustriousonionskinplayers.org or from the Weiser and Ontario Chamber of Commerce offices.

 The Star Theater is an authentic venue for the melodrama. The historic downtown Weiser theater is more than 100 years old. It is now owned by the nonprofit Onion Skin Players, which is governed by a board of directors, and the building was paid off a couple of years ago.