Last show of season opens April 27
Dinner and show planned May 12 at Texas State Railroad
BY SHEILAH O'HEANEY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Ida Rhinegold, played by Phyllis Johnson, entices Munro Murgatroyd, played by Dan Breen, in this scene from "Dirty Work at the Crossroads." PHOTO: SHEILAH O'HEANEY

"Curses foiled again!" The phrase is part of our American culture, but have you ever heard someone actually say it? Then come on down to Cherokee Civic Theatre's spring production, "Dirty Work At The Crossroads." Written by Bill Johnson, this comic melodrama has it all: a heroine under siege, a wicked villain, a handsome (but none-too-bright) hero and, of course, railroad tracks.

Directed by Jerry Parker, "Dirty Work At The Crossroads" will be performed at Cherokee Theater at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, and Saturday, April 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday matinee April 29.

"We're trying to create as nostalgic an atmosphere as possible," noted Mr. Parker. "Melodramas were very stylized with cues for the audiences to boo and cheer at all the right moments. We want our audiences to get in the spirit and hiss the villains!"

There will also be a special "Dessert and a Show" performance at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12 at the Rusk Depot of the Texas State Railroad.

"We've been brainstorming all year with the Texas State Railroad folk on a production at the Depot," explains Sheilah O'Heaney, CCT's board president. Mark Price really caught our imagination by suggesting a show on a flatbed railcar and that's exactly what we'll be doing. And we'll actually get to tie someone to the tracks."

The cast of "Dirty Work At The Crossroads" features Dan Eddie Breen as the evil Munro Murgatroyd and Phyllis Johnson as Ida Rhinegold, his temptress accomplice. Jenni Daniels plays the tried and true Nellie Lovelace with P O Ford as the well-intentioned hero Adam Oakhart; and Gerald Salzarulo is the faithful sidekick, Mookie Maguggins. Cast in cameo roles are Candy Dominquez as the Widow Lovelace; Sheilah O'Heaney as society matron, Mrs. Upson Asterbilt; Jessica Breen-Ford as the naive Leonie Asterbilt; and Tiffany Hammock as a coquettish French maid. Chelsie Daniels portrays Little Nell and Rebecca Star Johnson and Moira O'Heaney Debbs serve as the Cue Card Cuties.

Tickets for "Dirty Work At The Crossroads" go on sale Monday, April 16. CCT box office hours are 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Reservations may also be made by phone at (903) 683-2131. Advance tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for students and at-the-door tickets are $10. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For a rootin¿ tootin¿ show of old fashioned fun, the public is invited to come boo the villain and cheer for the hero at CCT's "Dirty Work At The Crossroads."