By Andrew Evans aka the Pickleball Librarian
It’s a shame how kids nowadays are more familiar with the saying “6-7” than they are with what melodrama and vaudeville are! I have childhood memories of attending melodramas with my parents and grandparents. You will create happy memories attending Topeka’s special melodrama with your family.
Let me share more about what a melodrama is. It’s a fun interactive play! Audience participation is a necessity. You get to boo, hiss, and cheer! The actors will often respond to the audience’s heckling and help. It harkens back to the days of vaudeville.
The Drunkard is a piece of Topeka theatre history! It’s the longest-running play in Topeka. The late Dale Easton took two 19th Century plays written as serious condemnations of the evils of alcohol and created a play that makes fun of the 19th Century Temperance Movement. He premiered the play in 1960. 67 years later, it’s still drinking.
Is The Drunkard dated? Is making fun of folks with alcohol dependency wrong? Yes, but these are good discussion points. Also everyone gets to boo loudly when a distasteful joke is made! Even the guys booed in response to sexist jokes.
Many of the best actors in Topeka’s theatre history had at one time or another been involved with the Drunkard including Topeka Theatre Treasures Karen Hastings, Phil Grecian, and Shawn Trimble. 6-7 is special, and the Treasure Trio are back this year!
Phil is funnier than hell as the Drunkard. John Hanna does an amazing job as the villain. Sally Roediger is over the top with the dramatics as the Drunkard’s wife. Too many excellent actors to name!
After the two-act melodrama, the olio tribute to vaudeville follows! According to Wikipedia, “vaudeville was a popular form of theatrical variety entertainment that dominated North American stages from the early 1870s until the early 1930s. A typical show featured a fast-paced series of 10 to 15 completely unrelated acts.”
The actors take various classic vaudeville numbers and update them for the modern 6-7 audience. A lot of it is improv! “My motor may be running, but you didn’t start it.” Wait till you hear Roslind Rinlay and William Ross’s rendition of the 1909 love song By The Light Of The Silvery Moon. I’ll be practicing that number to sing during one of my future dates!
The whole crew performed well and included a 13-year-old stagehand to stage participants from their twenties to eighties. A lot of actors continue this Topeka tradition.
Music! Piano players are the musical directors of the melodrama. They have to carefully watch and listen to the actors, as they incorporate the music in live time! Washburn University music senior Weslie Evans, who has been playing piano since the young age of six, did an excellent job. After the final dress rehearsal, the cast had a quick meeting and applauded Weslie. They didn’t know who I was and probably assumed I was just there to give someone a ride. Small confession, proud dad here!
If you never experienced this piece of Topeka history and also what vaudeville and melodramas are, check this out! You will laugh so much that it feels like you fell off a bar stool or the wagon. The lines will crack you up! Deadpan humor! Physical comedy is fun! Improv humor to stick with you!
The Phillip Ballard VFW Post #1640 at 3110 SW Huntoon St where shows are held will have drink specials. As a bonus, the Saturday shows will have dinner options for an extra $10! See https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/arts-inc-topeka-ks/69f781a723d1e2105c869324 for more information and affordable $15 tickets.
Showtimes at 7pm on Sat. Jun 13, Thu. Jun 18, Fri. Jun 19, Sat. Jun 20, Fri. Jun 26, and Sat. Jun 27.
