Community Theatre Showcases Local Talent

Last week local talent took the stage to perform in the new Moapa Valley Community Theatre project. Moapa Valley High School Drama teacher, Ms. Kenna Dalley had approached the local MV Performing Arts Council with an interest to hold a summer theatre program. After a bit of leg work, funding was secured and Ms. Dalley’s idea was off and running. As Director, she secured 11 eager actors and 13 crew members along with one funny interim entertainer.

The first of the three plays was titled “The Boor”, set in a reception room in Mrs. Popov’s home in the early 1900s. This play cast Megan Potter as Helena Ivanovna Popov as a widow to the late Nicholas. The audience quickly learned that Nicholas wasn’t the shining example one who hope for in a husband, nonetheless Helena had spent the past year locked away in her home, a devoted wife, still grieving for her late husband. A portrait of “Nicholas” hung on the wall in the form of a picture from a scene in “The Shining” showing Jack Nicholson’s face peering through the curtains.

The second play was titled “The Proposal” , again a three person cast including Clint Brill as the father Steven Stevenson, Abbie Brill as the daughter Natasha, and Cody Adams as Ivan Lomov, the young lad ready for marriage. The scene was set in a drawing room in Stevenson’s home, early 1900s.

Eventually Steven reappeared hearing the heated argument. More arguing ensued which ended with Ivan crawling across the floor grasping at his aching chest as he exited the house. Steven then reveals to his daughter the reason for Ivan’s visit, a proposal of marriage. Stunned, Natalya demands that her father bring him back. “Bring him back, bring him back” she yelled as she lay across the couch devastated at the missed opportunity. Once Ivan came back he still didn’t get the chance to propose as yet another argument broke out about whose dog was a better breed.

Again Steven breaks in on the argument and sides with his daughter. Eventually Ivan is set into proposal position and just when the audience thought he would finally spit it out, the dog argument wins out and the scene ends.

Before the final performance, interim entertainment had been secured. Lori Markosek provided a bubbly and fun performance of “Second Hand Rose” giving the audience plenty of laughs.

The third and final play of the evening was titled “The Anniversary”. This play was set in the private office of the Chairman of Directors of a Joint Stock Bank, present day. The cast included Cameron Kirwin as Andrew Shipuchin, the Chairman, Jennifer Neil as his wife Delilah Shipuchin, his secretary Karen played by Norita Espinosa, Jordan Hardy as a poor woman, and Ron Dalley and Cole Bennett as Bank Directors.

The play opened with a sick Karen trying to complete a brief for her boss before the Bank Directors arrived for the anniversary celebration. There was one interruption after another which prevented Karen from completing her task thus frustrating her. First it was the boss, Andrew who arrived to interrupt her, then there was Delilah who arrived unannounced and did nothing but go on and on about her day and all of the handsome men she met on the train. Next a woman, Natasha came in off the street requesting $24.36 that was owed to her husband.

With all elements in the same room the chaos ensued and a variety of interactions took place providing the audience with a confusing but entertaining situation. There was a chase with a letter opened and a plunger. Delilah found her way on top of Karen’s desk as well as her file cabinet at one point. In the end when the chaos hit its pinnacle, the Bank Directors entered to present Andrew with an award for the anniversary and had quite an eyeful.

All three plays lasted approximately 25 minutes and provided plenty of laughter. The two evenings were not very well attended by the community, nonetheless Ms. Dalley and her crew did an outstanding job providing great local entertainment. Not only did the evening include these 11 talented actors but 13 crew members that made sure everything was taken care of, in place and on time. Crew members included Emma Hardy, Stage Manager; Charlene Clowes and Emma Segovia, Costume Design and Hair/Make-up; Adam Hardy, light and sound design; Kim Hardy, Assistant to Ms. Dalley; Brandon Kellar,

The Moapa Valley Community Theatre was sponsored by the Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council, funded in part by the Arts in Education Department of the Nevada Arts Council, Moapa Valley Telephone Company, and the National Endowment for the Arts.