Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Jared Petrie The final curtain call on the final play directed by James Crawford ended at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. It was followed by a reception for those who wished to visit and talk with the cast and director.

Media Credit: Jared Petrie After being shot for the twelfth time, Black Dog (Eric Rautmann) asks for a beer which spurts out of the bullet holes in his chest.

Media Credit: Jared Petrie Jessica Keller's, Bridget Johnston's, Hannah Lane's and Joe Janisch's characters cut up Black Dog played by Eric Rautmann. The four of them killed Black Dog.

"Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage", put on by Lakeland students on March 29-31, was the last production theatre director James Crawford (JC) would direct.

"Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage" is a raunchy western/horror flick written by Jane Martin, JC's favorite playwright. The play featured some grotesque scenes of blood and gore as the antagonist, Black Dog, a Ukrainian, one-eyed, Hell's Angels biker, is pummeled over and over, refusing to stay down.

The set was beautiful with blue/green lights and a deep purple painted house. This connected well to the seemingly unrelated title of the play. Rich colors were found throughout the play in the choices for lighting for each scene.

Creative costumes and even more interesting accessories adorned the actors. Hannah Lane played Shedevil, who was a provocative woman on the run and dressed as tacky as could be. Joseph Jansich played Rob Bob, wore traditional cowboy garb, when he wasn't walking across the stage in his jockstrap. The character Shirl, portrayed by Jessica Keller, gave us all a glimpse of some of her skin as she tore off her top and ran off stage to greet her boyfriend. She was a butcher, who while still topless, used her skills to help her then fiancé save face later on in the show.

After every scene the stage would go nearly black as stage crew quickly switched around the few props that needed to be moved, and rather loud country music was blasted over the speakers.

The set itself was rather self destructive with dangerously top heavy jars and objects that refused to stay on the walls. A few hats and some skulls fell during the performance, but were noted as something that was supposed to happen or in happening did not detract from the performance or distract the performers.

The play was filled with colorful language and crude jokes and humor. The audience laughed heartily at many of the jokes, but, sadly some were seen as too over-the-top for a Lakeland production and frowned upon by older members of the crowd, such as Shedevil's strange noises getting her a catholic reference.

The actors performed well throughout the play.

The improvisation, or ability to act given unscripted lines or interruptions, was tested during this play. Baxter Blue, a cop played by Cole Zondag, forgot many of his lines and stood stoic among the other actors. This detracted little from the play, unless you had read it beforehand, as the other actors quickly compensated for the mistakes.

Sadly, Zondag's forgotten lines affected the last part of the story in an irrevocable way. A large part of his character was lost in the dialogue that was missed. One small mark against an otherwise amusing performance.

Eric Rautmann, who played Black Dog, was definitely a crowd favorite. The ever-living biker had amusing lines and actions across stage. He sprayed beer out of his chest through bullet holes before throwing the can across stage sending the beverage shooting out, nearly hitting the audience.

Through the vulgarities and clothes shedding, this play is one that speaks of lives that are still lived in America. From the enthusiastic young cowboy, to the junkie on the road, this play had it all. It just wouldn't be something to take your little ones to as was stated on all the flyers plastered throughout Lakeland's campus.

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