Virus Theater Presents The Candy Shoppe Calamity, Or The Good, The Bad, & The Pretty: A Bawdy Melodrama of Deceit, Decay, and Just Desserts
What: a new original melodrama directed by Teresa Dahl-Bredine and written by Douglas Shelton and the Virus Ensemble. Bring your friends to boo the villains and cheer for the heroes. Popcorn and refreshments available for sale in the theater. Rated PG-13 for innuendo, language, and suggestions of melodrama violence.
Where: The Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House, 32 Main St, Pinos Altos, NM
When: Friday Nights at 8pm
Saturday Nights at 7pm
Sunday Matinees at 2pm
May 31 - June 16
Friday, May 31, 8pm
Saturday, June 1, 7pm
Sunday, June 2, 2pm
Friday, June 7, 8pm
Saturday, June 8, 7pm
Sunday, June 9, 2pm
Friday, June 14, 8pm
Saturday, June 15, 7pm
Sunday, June 16, 2pm
Cost $10
Tickets available at the door and at Vintage Fantasies, 412 N Bullard, Silver City, NM
Virus Theater will bring a little bit of the Old West back to Pinos Altos this month. The second show in their 2019 season opens Friday May 31 and runs the first three weekends of June: The Candy Shoppe Calamity, or The Good, The Bad, & The Pretty: A Bawdy Melodrama of Deceit, Decay, and Just Desserts. Why the long name? It’s a nod to the elaborate titles and subtitles of the 19th century in which the play is set.
“Virus’s productions are known for their high-energy theatricality and for their brave and spectacular design elements. The melodrama is a silly and adventurous romp where the villains are despicable and the good are rewarded,” said director Teresa Dahl-Bredine. Teresa, who is also a co-owner of Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery, has always had a passion for bringing theater to her hometown of Silver City. “I’ve been doing theater since I was six years old. I got involved at WNMU’s theater dept at that age and have never stopped,” she said. After graduating from the prestigious Yale School of Drama Dahl-Bredine founded the Virus Theater in 1997. Dahl-Bredine runs the company with an emphasis on ensemble, a term used to describe a group of actors who work together on multiple shows while taking on different roles as well as a tight-knit group of actors. The ensemble cast includes community members from all walks of life who have been training in theater skills together, in some cases for decades. They take on different roles, from acting to technical design to fundraising to publicity. The script was written by ensemble member and playwright Douglas Shelton, who is also the lighting designer, with cooperation from the actors. “The story and characters were developed through group improvisation, and then Doug wrote the dialogue. It was really a collaborative effort, which is extra rewarding for all,” said Dahl-Bredine.
The plot involves a candy shop with a bootlegging owner whose recent injury and the landlord’s predatory scheming causes her to seek help from her cousin, an adventure-seeking accountant. A mining claim, a new face, and an inheritance provide hope for the struggling business. “It’s a great opportunity for a fun night out with your friends or for a fun date night,” says cast member Robin Santa-Teresa, who plays the bootlegging Cookie Le BonBon. The Buckhorn opera house is in keeping with the Old West setting of the play. Playgoers are greeted with an old-timey saloon feel from the moment they walk in the door.
Kids are welcome and will enjoy booing the villains and throwing popcorn along with the adults, all of which the cast encourages but parents should be aware of mildly disguised adult themes, innuendo and some 19th century style naughtiness and theatrical violence. “It’s geared towards adult humor, but older kids will also enjoy,” said Dahl-Bredine.
The Candy Shoppe Calamity, Virus Theater’s latest original melodrama, opens Friday, May 31 at the Buckhorn Saloon & Opera House in Pinos Altos, NM and runs until Sunday, June 16. Friday evening showtimes are at 8pm, Saturday nights at 7pm, and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are $10 available at the door or at Vintage Fantasies, 412 N Bullard, in Silver City. For more information, visit https://virustheater.com/coming-soon/.