One era`s serious drama can sometimes wind up becoming another era`s campy humor. Consider the case of ”Deadwood Dick . . . Or the Game of Gold,” a play based on the dime novels of Edward L. Wheeler, which opens Friday at Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock.
The play has a villain, complete with handlebar mustache, a virtuous maiden named Teetotal Tessie and strapping heroes. Such characters were earnestly portrayed at the turn of the century, when melodramas were popular. ”Realism wasn`t the thing,” says Kathie Comella, the play`s director.
”They were not out to re-create real life. It`s a definite style, exaggerated and flamboyant.”
Comella is going for authenticity in her production, using, for example, the ”oleo” doors on the wings of the Opera House stage.
”These early temperance plays had a lot of moralizing in them about the dangers of alcohol, so to lighten the mood, they used to have `oleo` acts-from the Spanish word for assortment-come out between scenes and sing and dance.
”So after each scene of `Deadwood,` we`re going to bring out barbershop quartets, can-can girls, you name it.”
Playing the villain is Bob Wilbrandt, a Woodstock lawyer who says the overwrought acting style took some getting used to.
”I`ve been doing community theater for about 15 years, and I had to unlearn all the training I`ve gotten from directors, who always tell you,
`Tone it down, don`t play it so big.` I`m imitating the methodology of the 1890s, which is basically `be a ham.` ”
Wilbrandt studied for the role by watching videos of the `60s cartoon
”The Bullwinkle Show,” which featured ”Adventures of Dudley Doright”
and its archvillain Snidely Whiplash.
”These plays present things in black and white, and I guess I represent the black,” says Wilbrandt, who adds that one of his biggest challenges is keeping a straight face while uttering the classic bad-guy line ”Curses, foiled again.”
For his evil deeds-he kidnaps two sisters who know where a secret gold mine is located-Wilbrandt says his character, Blackman Redburn, receives just retribution.
”But I get a great drawn-out death scene, where I give this little speech about how justice prevails, and I see the devil coming for me. I die for about five minutes. But the hard part is that I have to lie there while everyone celebrates, without breaking out laughing at some of the lines they say.”
For the Woodstock Opera House, ”Deadwood Dick” represents a return to its roots. The melodramas ”Margery Daw” and ”A Soldier of Fortune” were the first two plays presented at the theater in 1898, when admission was 35 cents.
”Deadwood Dick . . . Or the Game of Gold” will be presented by Paradise People through June 14. Tickets are $8. Call 815-338-5300.
