Historic Opera Theatre: Ol' Time Family Fun

It's Saturday night at the old Historic Opera Theatre in Glenns Ferry. As you walk through the door, your senses spiral into yesteryear. Closing your eyes, the cheerful sounds invade your mind, pushing all worry and cares away. Breathing in deeply, the air is filled with aromatic memories of days gone by. Delight fills your soul as the smell of the BBQ and popcorn transport you into summer days filled with fun and laughter. Flashing ever so quickly through your mind, you remember how you felt when the schoolhouse was closed and the only concern you had was which to do first, go swimming or fishing.

Opening your eyes, you gaze with wide-eyed wonder, momentarily forgetting your age. The décor is rich with history, as every inch vibrates with the spirit of those who celebrated before you. One would fancy that at night when it is quiet, the place would suddenly echo with the sounds of vaudeville and old organ music played during the silent movie days. The wood floors shine; the theatre chairs sit proud; the walls flaunt the talented and the stage beckons for all to come forth to be entertained.

The front lobby is furnished with antiques and an old-fashioned concession counter. People are milling about chatting with friends while piano music floats throughout the theatre. Children are playfully skipping about, several wearing matching buckaroo outfits that signify that they are part of the cast. Several teenage ladies dressed in showgirl fashion greet the guests cheerfully, offering to escort any willing male to his seat. Likewise, handsome cowboys present their arm to the ladies and flatter them with complimentary gestures of gallantry. Anyone would be hard-pressed to resist smiling when the little rosy-checked buckaroos prance by with excitement as their parents puff up with obvious pride. Each child can barely contain themselves as they form a line waiting for the signal that the festivities are about to begin. A hush spreads through-out the big room and people settle in.

Rich and Connie Wills, owners of the theatre, are starting their 16th season. Every summer, they present two shows each weekend. This year, audiences can see the comedy murder mystery "Let Him Sleep 'til It's Time for His Funeral" every Friday through Aug. 28, and "Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch" every Saturday through Aug. 29.

The Wills specialize in bringing melodrama back to life with family fun. The cast and crew are a mixture of adults and children, some of whom are related. Everyone volunteers their time and talent. Parents and their kids gather together, making priceless memories. A few, myself included, dedicate themselves to this acting hobby alone without other family members but are welcomed into the fold. That is what makes this theatre experience so special.

The show always starts with Rich Wills recognizing those guests who travelled the farthest and birthdays for the month. If you're lucky enough to have a birthday, the whole cast serenades you with a lively song called, "You beautiful doll." Since the theatre is located right next to the train tracks, the show will stop when the train comes and everyone sings, "I've been Working on the Railroad" Be warned! The rules of the theatre are very strict in that if you are caught not singing, Rich will make you come down and sing for everyone. We were lucky to have that happen on Saturday. Not one but two guests found themselves front and center. The audience, cast and crew could barely contain their laughter as Rich exclaims, "This is what happens when you don't pay attention. I warned everyone at the beginning about the song, yet you didn't sing." It was all good-natured fun as many took pity on them and helped by singing along.

Once the train has passed, the show continues right where they left off. Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch is the traditional melodrama where the audience boos the villain or villainess and cheers for the hero. There are lines forgotten and plenty of ad-libbing to cover it. The great thing about this show is that the audience and the cast interact. Each show is different as the characters seem to grow in strength and silliness. There is nothing that can compare to the small town melodrama.

"I think it's marvelous," said audience member Janice Aagaard, who came from Boise to see the melodrama. "They put on an excellent show for everyone. The kids are just charming." Another guest announced, "I came all the way from Pocatello! This was the highlight of my trip."

The Red and purple hats and feather boas were displayed by the Mountain Home Red Hat ladies who filled the first two rows. They seemed to enjoy every minute of the show. One enthusiastic red-hat lady proclaimed, "This was the best one I've seen and I've been to many of these performances in the past." Another happy purple-clad grandma shook hands with the actors after the show with resounding compliments. "I laughed so much! And everyone was so spontaneous! You never knew what would happen next!"

"We are not a professional theatre and that's what makes it fun. We look at what makes it memorable." Connie Wills said. "We've done this for many years and it is wonderful to see some of our actors really grow into their talent."

So if you are looking for a great idea for your summer evening, check out the Historic Opera Theatre at www.glennsferrytheatre.org/.