"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
29
How will you keep your kids busy this summer vacation?
Play Review: Bus Stop
Comments
The Commonweal Theatre has come up with another winner in Bus Stop, a 1950’s comedy by William Inge. There’s a lot more than just laughs and slapstick going on in this play though. Loneliness, the play-wright seems to be saying, is the shared common denominator of the human condition.
The setting is a roadside diner in rural Kansas where four stranded bus passengers have taken refuge during a blinding March snowstorm. The diner is owned by Grace (Carla Noack), whose employee is the bright-eyed teenage wait-ress Elma (Stela Burdt). Elma is full of questions about life and love and Grace is the lonely and seasoned cynic. "If I didn’t have this restaurant to keep me busy, I’d probably go nuts," she says matter-of-factly.
Cherie (Christine Winkler) is a smalltime nightclub singer from the Ozarks. Winkler brings a provocative blend of raw sensuousness and campy trashiness to the role, which was immortalized by Marilyn Monroe in the movie version of the play. Cherie is being kidnapped, after a fashion, by Bo, a 21-year old Montana cowboy, who fell head over heels in love when he first saw her on stage in Kansas City.
Eric Knutson’s portrayal of the earnest and corny cowboy is a pure hoot, full of all the vigor and swagger of youth. He proclaims loudly to anyone who will listen that he’s "the prize bronco-buster, ‘n steer-roper, ‘n bulldogger, anywhere ‘round. . . .And what’s more I had my picture in Life magazine!" Bo, unaware that she detests him, is intent on taking Cherie back to his ranch where he plans to marry her.
Bo’s sidekick, Virgil, is an old time ranch hand and father figure, played with an understated dignity and power by David Hennessey. Virgil consuls Bo that he had better take the Sheriff’s (Nicholas Ozment) advice and leave Cherie alone. "You cain’t force a gal to marry ya. Ya jest cain’t do it."
When Bo asks him if he ever gets lonely, Virgil’s nasal-twanged reply is heartrending in its blunt honesty, "A long time ago, I gave up romancin’ and decided that I was just going to take bein’ lonesome for granted."
Then there’s Dr. Lyman (Christopher Oden), a former college professor and lecherous alcoholic, who can’t help himself from putting the amorous moves on Elma, the teenage waitress. Oden is mesmerizing as the disheveled yet erudite, Lyman, and his emotional unraveling is a fascinating thing to watch.
At one point he tells the swooning Elma, "My dear girl, I have disapproved of my entire life...But I suppose I couldn't resist living it over again." He’s a true romantic.
The fine performances by this talented cast under the direction of Paul Barnes of Ashland, Oregon, make for a very entertaining and thought-provoking evening at the theater.
Bus Stop runs through October 22.
The setting is a roadside diner in rural Kansas where four stranded bus passengers have taken refuge during a blinding March snowstorm. The diner is owned by Grace (Carla Noack), whose employee is the bright-eyed teenage wait-ress Elma (Stela Burdt). Elma is full of questions about life and love and Grace is the lonely and seasoned cynic. "If I didn’t have this restaurant to keep me busy, I’d probably go nuts," she says matter-of-factly.
Cherie (Christine Winkler) is a smalltime nightclub singer from the Ozarks. Winkler brings a provocative blend of raw sensuousness and campy trashiness to the role, which was immortalized by Marilyn Monroe in the movie version of the play. Cherie is being kidnapped, after a fashion, by Bo, a 21-year old Montana cowboy, who fell head over heels in love when he first saw her on stage in Kansas City.
Eric Knutson’s portrayal of the earnest and corny cowboy is a pure hoot, full of all the vigor and swagger of youth. He proclaims loudly to anyone who will listen that he’s "the prize bronco-buster, ‘n steer-roper, ‘n bulldogger, anywhere ‘round. . . .And what’s more I had my picture in Life magazine!" Bo, unaware that she detests him, is intent on taking Cherie back to his ranch where he plans to marry her.
Bo’s sidekick, Virgil, is an old time ranch hand and father figure, played with an understated dignity and power by David Hennessey. Virgil consuls Bo that he had better take the Sheriff’s (Nicholas Ozment) advice and leave Cherie alone. "You cain’t force a gal to marry ya. Ya jest cain’t do it."
When Bo asks him if he ever gets lonely, Virgil’s nasal-twanged reply is heartrending in its blunt honesty, "A long time ago, I gave up romancin’ and decided that I was just going to take bein’ lonesome for granted."
Then there’s Dr. Lyman (Christopher Oden), a former college professor and lecherous alcoholic, who can’t help himself from putting the amorous moves on Elma, the teenage waitress. Oden is mesmerizing as the disheveled yet erudite, Lyman, and his emotional unraveling is a fascinating thing to watch.
At one point he tells the swooning Elma, "My dear girl, I have disapproved of my entire life...But I suppose I couldn't resist living it over again." He’s a true romantic.
The fine performances by this talented cast under the direction of Paul Barnes of Ashland, Oregon, make for a very entertaining and thought-provoking evening at the theater.
Bus Stop runs through October 22.
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