‘Ride the Rails’ with PA Players’ melodrama

Published 1:11 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The latest production from the Port Angeles Community Players encourages you to cheer the heroes and jeer the villains.

Barbara Frederick directs Morland Cary’s melodrama “Love Rides The Rails (or Will The Mail Train Run Tonight?)” starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, in the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

The show continues at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19, 22, 25-26, 29, Oct. 2-3, and at 2 p.m Sept. 20, 27 and Oct. 4. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 students and children are available at Odyssey Bookshop, at the door and at www.pacommmunityplayers.com.

“Love Rides The Rails” centers on villainous Simon Darkway, played by Jack Simpson, seeking to overtake a railroad franchise to add to his own Port Angeles & Pacific Line but heroes Truman Pendennis (Jonathan Mitchell), Prudence Hopewell (Megan Mundy) and more stand in his way.

Frederick said melodramas exaggerate the story and characters while incorporating the audience for fun.

The audience is encouraged to boo the villain and cheer the hero, and join in the songs, she said.

To add to the turn of the 20th century feeling, music director Leroy Davidson provides live organ music to accent the action, much like a silent movie.

Frederick said they also infused the play with historical peninsula train companies and places the audience will know.

Cast members range in age from 14-70 also including Steve Berry, Anita Bonham, Mary Brelsford, Patsy Crawford, Brenda DeChant, John Dixon, Martin Gutowski, William Hads, Peggy Kempf, Makinzie Lang, Damon Little, Phil Morgan Ellis, Abby Mundy, Fred Robinson and Marissa Wilson.

For more information, call 452-6651 or see pacommunityplayers.com.