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Yosemite High Theater Arts Sows “Wild Oats”

Mary Weigel and Ben Johnson

OAKHURST — Yosemite High School Theater Arts Department is proud to present Wild Oats, a comic romance of the old west by James McClure.

The show opens this week, on Thursday, Apr. 20. Wild Oats runs for three nights through Saturday, Apr. 22, at the YHS theater, starting at 7 p.m.

The raucous comedy combines a little bit of Shakespeare, western duels, slapstick comedy and old-time saloon music in a fun and entertaining way. The story includes gunslingers and bar room fights, dirty dealing sidewinders trying to cheat honest folks out of their money and property, traveling actors, estranged family members who are reunited and even a bear, live onstage.

The show is appropriate for audiences from ages 8 to adult.

Wild Oats brings every element that we think of when remembering the old west and mashes them together into a fun, romantic, silly, crazy night of fun. It is more complicated than a traditional melodrama, with some Shakespeare and an amusing East Coast vs. West Coast contrast.

Kendra Tapia and Dylan Thacker

The YHS production features a cast of 25. Actors playing leading roles include seniors Dylan Thacker, Kendra Tapia, Alex Williams and Steve Schumaker. Other important roles feature juniors Ben Johnson, Mary Weigel, Jacob Pitkanen, and Alli Ruiz.

We are very lucky to have senior Isabel McGoldrick in his Advanced Theater Arts class because she is an accomplished pianist and learned many old western songs which she will play live onstage.

“It’s fun because I have to do a number of different accents,” says Dylan Thacker. “I have to speak the Shakespeare at least halfway convincingly, woo a girl, fight bad guys and save the day. It’s a big job.”

Senior Dylan Thacker, juniors Jacob Pitkanen and Jack Rice

Kendra Tapia says she enjoys the section of Shakespeare that she and hacker have together.

“I did a version of Taming of the Shrew in eighth grade at Rivergold,” Kendra adds. “It’s fun to revisit that play and even better because now I get to play Kate and not the boy part.”

 Tickets for Wild Oats are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and can be purchased at the door.

For more information on the play, please call (559) 683-4667 ext. 256.

 

 

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