Theatre Guild delivers terrific, tense, folksy ‘Liberty Valance’
The Wild West lives again as the Dayton Theatre Guild concludes its 2018-2019 season with a terrifically authentic presentation of Jethro Compton’s 2014 drama “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” continuing through Sunday, June 23, under the fluid, folksy and fittingly tense direction of J. Gary Thompson.
Adapted from the 1953 short story by Dorothy M. Johnson and famously filmed in 1962 by John Ford, “Liberty Valance” weaves important themes of community, courage, family, fear, acceptance, tolerance, racism, and reputation within a relevant and timely tale concerning reluctant citizens unwilling to defeat an existential threat. Is anyone brave enough to stop lawless villain Liberty Valance, the incredibly smug killer who has the sleepy town of Twotrees firmly in his grip? Ransome Foster, an outsider from New York City, boldly steps up to the plate, but not without crucially changing the mindset of his new neighbors along the way. In fact, in a nod to George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion,” Ransome turns the Prairie Belle Saloon (excellently designed by Chris “Red” Newman in striking Western fashion complete with balcony) into a makeshift schoolhouse, encouraging his impressionable students, including saloon owner Hallie Jackson and her loyal African-American employee Jim “The Reverend” Mosten, to have a deeper respect for the English language and a greater appreciation for literature and the arts.
Mike Beerbower is wonderfully heartfelt and dignified as the bookish, meek and soft-spoken Ransome, a genuinely nice guy trying to make a difference in the face of adversity. Kelli Locker, a sassy spitfire, is a wellmatched love interest for Beerbower as Hallie, a tough, independent woman using her outspoken personality to disguise her grief, insecurity and loneliness. In the menacing title role, the dynamically intimidating Zack Katris, full of pompous swagger and chilling vindictiveness, mesmerizes with gentlemanly evil glee. In a fantastic Act 2 moral showdown opposite Beerbower, Katris, a superb Stanley Kowalski in Beavercreek Community Theatre’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” last season, paints an eye-opening portrait of the American Dream gone awry as Liberty suggests his pursuit of happiness is simply preserving the West in his image.
Thompson’s strong, maledominated cast, costumed by Carol Finley and Barbara Jorgensen, includes Mark Diffenderfer as shady cowboy Bert Barricune, Austin Vega as humble, hard-working Jim, Jim Walker as fickle Marshal Johnson, K.L. Storer as the laidback Narrator, Trenton Napier as Jake Dowitt, Josh Richardt as Deputy, and ensemble members Mark Goodwin, Laura Haney, John Juergens, Jamie McQuinn, Dan Raridan, and Steve Voris. Storer also notably supplies first-rate sound design with Sarah Saunders.
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $13 for students. Call (937) 2785993 or visit daytontheatreguild.org.
Undercroft Players prepare ‘Enchanted April’
Undercroft Players presents Matthew Barber’s 2003 comedy “Enchanted April” June 20-23 in the basement of First Lutheran Church, 138 W. First St., Dayton.
Adapted from Elizabeth von Arnim’s 1922 novel and Tony-nominated for best play, “Enchanted April” chronicles two London housewives who decide to rent a villa in Italy for a ladies-only holiday with a pair of upper-class women. The four women initially clash, but ultimately strengthen their bond of friendship.
Daily Variety described the play as “a comical, restorative journey of discovery … from darkness to light, from inhibition to unrestrained joy. Beautiful and theatrically rewarding.”
The cast features Ellen Ballerene as Lotty Wilton, Rick Flynn as Mellersh Wilton, Jill Evans as Rose Arnott, John Spitler as Frederick Arnott, Lauren Boyd as Caroline Bramble, Matthew W. Smith as Antony Wilding, Joyce Genari as Mrs. Graves, and Patti King as Costanza.
“We have a fabulous cast,” said director/founder Teresa Connair, who also produces and serves as set designer. “This promises to be a very good production.”
Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 17 and younger. For more information, visit undercroftplayers.weebly. com.
Xenia Theatre presents ‘Annie Jr.’
Xenia Area Community Theatre in partnership with Actors Unlimited presents Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin and Thomas Meehan’s 1977 musical “Annie Jr.” through Sunday, June 23. Actors Unlimited, under the direction of Amy L. Prestridge, is a musical theatre group for home schooled children in grades 7-12 incorporating kids from Springboro to Wilmington. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at XACT, 45 E. Second St., Xenia. Tickets are $17 general admission, $14 for students and seniors, and $7 for children 12 and younger. XACT members receive 10 percent discounts. For more information, call (937) 372-0516 or visit xeniaact.org. For more information about Actors Unlimited, e-mail actorsunlimitedoh@ gmail.com.
In related news, XACT will hold auditions Monday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 25 for “Two Short Plays,” which will be staged by Kirk and Melodee Bass Aug. 30-Sept. 8. The plays are Anthony Forsythe’s comedy “No Mother to Guide Her: Or, More to be Pitied than Censured” and David Fulk’s Agatha Christie spoof/farce “The Potman Spoke Sooth.” Auditions will begin both nights at 7 p.m. and consist of cold readings from the scripts. For more information, visit xeniaact.org.
Contact this contributing writer at rflorence2@gmail.com.