Deadwood Dick
at James Madison High School

Reviewed on November 12, 2016

Joshua Wisdom
Riverside High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Grab your hat, horse, and gun and prepare for one of the wildest rides in the wilderness at James Madison High School's ace-high production of Deadwood Dick; or, A Game of Gold!

Created by Edward L. Wheeler, Deadwood Dick starred in a series of dime novels, first published in 1877, and becoming so immensely popular that the Dick anthology continued up until, and after, Wheeler's death in 1885. Now, over 100 years later, Tom Taggart has collected the most harrowing of situations, the most valiant of heroes, and the most dastardly of villains from these books and condensed them into one nail-biting play.

Set in Deadwood Gulch, the play follows the sinister Black ‘n Red (Ryaan Farhadi) and his mission to kidnap the blind, defenseless Lily Blossom (Justice Allen) upon whose back is a map to her long-dead father's secret goldmine. Assisted by the proprietor of the Man-Trap Saloon, Calamity Jane (Liv Wisnewski) all hope seems lost – that is, until two illustrious gentlemen ride into town: Ned Harris (Henro Kriel) and "Wild" Bill Hickock (Carson Casper). Will these two be able to save the tender prairie flower, Lily Blossom? What secrets lie in her past? And is Ned Harris harboring a hidden alter-ego, the infamous outlaw Deadwood Dick? All the answers will be revealed!

In such a fast-paced, bustling show like Deadwood Dick, actors can sometimes seem lost in the chaos. This was not the case at James Madison High School: characters were fleshed out, comedic moments given proper pause, and plot points were delivered clearly and concisely. Even the audience was given the chance to get involved, being encouraged to boo, hiss, cheer, and even throw popcorn as if they were back in the old days of theatre. One stand out actor, Ryaan Farhadi (Black) thrived off this involvement. Diving deep into the self-aware nature of the show, Farhadi had the audience pumping their fists and hollering at his demise, even catching the massive amounts of popcorn being thrown at him in his mouth occasionally. Similarly, Justice Allen had the audience in pieces as her innocence soared through the cesspit of drunks and gamblers at the Man-Trap. Her cooing voice was in sharp contrast to the rough and tumble of the Wild West, making the audience swoon as misfortune plagued her, and cheer wildly as she found her long lost mother. Crowd favorites included Teetotal Tessie (Kelly Brents), who had the audience in stiches as she roamed about them, having bags upon bags of popcorn thrown at her, Wild Bill (Carson Casper), the capable sidekick for whom the audience fell the moment he stepped foot on stage, and Vassili (Michelle Uchitel), who had the audience in a state of tangible sorrow at word of his death, twice for that matter.

While the actors on stage worked their magic, the play would not have been complete without the meticulous and precise work of Faith Carlson and William Kegley, who designed the diverse set. Adorned with little details such as bullet holes in the walls, large wooden wheels, and even a violin showing the saloon's long history and serving as a dynamic area for the actors.

James Madison High School's Deadwood Dick serves as a stellar reminder to a time when theatre was not thought of so seriously, combining outlandish characters, audience participation, and comedy at every turn, even in the most perilous of moments.

Sierra Carrillo
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Guns, villains, and popcorn of course! It can all be found right on stage in the "Man Trap Saloon." In this interactive production of "Deadwood Dick," James Madison High School brought the audience right into the thrilling Old West.

Based on the stories of the fictional character Deadwood Dick, written by Edward L. Wheeler in the 1870s, this show captures the iconography of the West and the melodrama that comes with it. The show opens on a crime in which a girl, Rose Blossom, has been stolen away from her sister, Lily Blossom, by Deadwood Dick himself. The town races to uncover the identity of the mysterious legend while an array of story lines collide to provide love, death, and plot twists in this action-packed play.

To assist in this melodrama, the audience was asked to participate in booing the villains and throwing popcorn when scenes were "just too emotional." While the audience involvement and sound difficulties led to various dropped lines, it provided for an incredibly immersive show. Along with the thrilling involvement, the audience was also immediately transported into the wild west through the impeccably detailed set. The textured walls and barrel tables of the "Man Trap Saloon" brought on-lookers right into the rowdy bar of the 1800s.

Gracing this set and welcoming the audience was an involved and expressive ensemble of saloon-goers, each with their own distinctly developed character, giving a lively back drop to all the action. Enlivening these characters and the rest of the cast were meticulously put together costumes. Skirts and corsets, to holsters and cowboy hats brought an authenticity to the wild west setting. Madison High School also provided props galore to enhance this show even more. A variety of drinks amplified the bar setting, while prop guns big and small added to the vigilante atmosphere as well as providing a gag or two.

The mischievous villain Black'n Red, portrayed by Ryaan Farhadi, supplied an indestructible swagger and strong presence on stage with his confidence and demanding voice. The amazingly witty Vassili, presented by Michelle Uchitel, dispensed subtle hilarity and lovable comedy consistently throughout the entire production. The sisters Lily and Rose Blossom brought a sweet innocence to the corrupt and dangerous western scene, with their positive attitudes and naive morals. Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, and Chet Pussy played by Carson Casper, Liv Wisnewski, and Kaz Johnstone also gave entertaining performances. Casper brought a heroic yet goofy presence, Wisnewski produced a fiery and passionate performance, and Johnstone was a subtle presence with spot-on comic timing that became seamlessly villainous.

Teetotal Tessie, portrayed by Kelly Brents, achieved an incredible comical moment as a crazed Temperance Crusader with a team of passionate "hatcheteers." Brents' spirited commitment to the character left the audience in a fit after one quick scene.

With a packed bar and non-stop action James Madison High School provided an all-inclusive night in the Old West with their interpretation of "Deadwood Dick."

Sierra Hoffman
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Red Apple 21 - FCPS

Heroes, villains, and damsels in distress take to the stage in the hilarious tale of a dangerous outlaw. The cast of James Madison High School's Deadwood Dick provided wall-to-wall, interactive entertainment, making for a memorable, can't-miss experience.

This western melodrama follows the fascinating tale of a captured girl, a terrifying villain, a hero, and the search for the infamous outlaw- Deadwood Dick. Because of the unique style of the show, audience members are encouraged to cheer, boo, hiss, repeat the catch phrases of the characters, and even toss popcorn on the stage. The show is performed in three acts with two intermissions, but keeping with the style of the show, intermission entertainment is also provided.

An excellent performance was given by Ryaan Farhadi as Blackman Redburn, or 'Black'n Red". Playing the bad guy is never easy, but Farhadi took on the challenge with great skill, even as the crowd booed his every move. His swagger and attitude created a clear character that the audience loved to hate. Another standout was by Michelle Uchitel as Vassili, the foreigner. Uchitel played to the audience's sympathy and quickly became a crowd favorite. She gave honesty to her character that added depth to her portrayal. Carson Casper gave a strong performance as Wild Bill, the trusty sidekick. Casper's performance was comedic and heartwarming, and he brought a charm to the character that made him lovable and exciting to watch.

Among the featured characters, Kelly Brents stood out as Teetotal Tessie, the crazy Prohibitionist who makes an appearance in the saloon with her troop of hatcheteers. Brents, although only appearing twice, creates one of the most memorable characters in the show. She fed off the energy of the audience's booing and hissing to give a hilarious performance from beginning to end. Another great performance was given by Kaz Johnstone as Chet Pussy, the saloon's bartender. Johnstone was engaging to watch and stole the show in the last scene. His hilarious reactions and communication with the audience added to his character. A show like this one only works if every actor is invested in the performance. Luckily, the entire cast was committed to the ridiculous nature of the script and accepted it readily.

Sets by Faith Carlson and William Kegley were well designed and executed, and incredibly detailed. Costumes by Claire Ashby and Bailey Bane were colorful, time appropriate, and visually pleasing. Hair and makeup by Rachel Landsel and Ilana May gave the finishing touches on the actors' looks, especially the saloon girls. Props by Kelly Brents, Max Jackson, and William Kegley were beautiful and detailed.

Deadwood Dick at James Madison High School was a high energy and hilarious show full of exciting twists and turns that left the audience in stitches, more or less- "or considerably less or more than more or less"

Eva Petersen
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Grab your boots, dust off your ten-gallon hat, and swing your partner round and round! Madison High School's production of "Deadwood Dick" has taken over the town! With a magical combination of acting and technical prowess, the show left the audience reeling, rollicking, and wishing the fun would never end.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of "Deadwood Dick" was the crowd participation. Theatregoers were encouraged to clap and cheer for the heroes and boo and hiss at the villains, even throw popcorn if they felt particularly moved. Whatever trepidation the audience had about this unique format was soon lost as they found the joy in unrestrained reaction. By the end of the show, people literally leapt out of their seats to scream commands at the characters.

Ryaan Farhadi acted the role of mustachioed ne'er-do-well Blackman Redburn with a sneering braggadocio that drew both the ire and admiration of the audience. Liv Wisnewski, in the role of slippery saloon owner Calamity Jane, gave an equally stirring performance that showcased both her comedic and emotional acting chops. As she strut into every scene, Wisnewski made her ownership of the Madison stage very clear. Apart, Farhadi and Wisnewski were riveting; together they were intoxicating.

Henro Kriel and Carson Casper, as heroic duo Ned Harris and Wild Bill, perfectly countered Farhadi and Wisnewski with their "aw shucks" Southern chivalry. Casper particularly charmed the audience with his slew of snappy one-liners and sweeter-than-sweet-tea accent. As sisters Rose and Lily Blossom, Maille-Rose Smith and Justice Allen won the hearts of the audience with their sobbing displays of woe. Allen also flawlessly maintained Lily's blindness throughout the show, never once dropping character.

There could have been an entire show about the supporting cast themselves. Though given limited stage time, these actors relished their parts and drew thunderous applause once they left. Gabrielle Jawer played saintly sheriff's wife Molly Loveless with both doleful tears and excellent comedic timing. In her scene stealing turn as ax-wielding temperance advocate Teetotal Tessie, Kelly Brents proved to be both scary and sidesplitting as she stormed into the crowd in her rampage for repentance. As she was dragged offstage kicking and screaming, the audience cheered and begged for more. Hilariously self-aware bartender Chet Pussy (Kaz Johnstone) and sweet Russian cook Vassili (Michelle Uchitel) were also audience favorites.

The technical team truly made the Wild West theme come to life. The props crew (Kelly Brents, Max Jackson and William Kegley) stocked the saloon with enough glass liquor bottles to put an ABC store out of business. The sepia-toned set (devised and built by Faith Carlson and William Kegley) would not have looked out of place in a Clint Eastwood film. In addition, the colorful costumes of Bailey Bane and Claire Ashby made the show a visual feast.

To say the audience had fun at "Deadwood Dick" would be an understatement; the madcap melodrama brought the house down in a way rarely seen in high school theatre, or anywhere for that matter. Madison Drama put on a play that simultaneously broke the rules of theatre and remade them, proving true the adage that if the actors have fun, the audience will too.

Laras Kettner
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Helpless maidens, swaggering cowboys, and a deep, dark secret. These adjectives describe Madison Drama's exuberant production of "Deadwood Dick," which will keep you on the edge of your seat and allow the entire audience to learn something new about themselves.

"Deadwood Dick" is a play by Tom Taggart based on a series of dimestore novels published by Edward Lytton Wheeler between 1877 and 1897. The character of Deadwood Dick focuses on a Robin Hood of the black hills, and the melodramatic lure that often depicts the Old West. The play is set in the powerful Calamity Jane's Man-Trap Saloon, and follows the story of an evil cowboy named Blackman Redburn and his evil plan. Two heroes, Ned Harris and Wild Bill, try to stop him. Of course, the story would not be complete without two maidens in distress, the sisters Rose and Lily Blossom.

As Blackman Redburn, Ryaan Farhadi perfectly captures the essence of a "true-black villain." Although his all-black costume and impressive mustache makes him look like the bad guy, his gruff voice, piercing eyes, and proud stance transforms him into a believable character. As Farhadi swaggers across the stage, he projects a commanding presence, causing the ensemble and audience to respect and fear him, creating an atmosphere that is very important in an "evil" character.

Liv Wisnewski as Calamity Jane also makes some exceptional character choices. Wisnewski clearly demonstrates that she is the owner of the "Man-Trap Saloon," with the way her swaying posture moves across the stage from one person to the next. Wisnewski portrays Calamity's rough and brazen exterior, and melds this with the kind and heartbroken emotions that characterize Calamity on the inside. Carson Casper as Wild Bill, with his slow western drawl, gangly body posture, and his perfect timing during moments of distress, illicit cheers from the audience, making him a hero during the show.

The entire ensemble has beautiful chemistry, every member developing personal traits such as body characterization that make each character special. However, an ensemble that really stands out is The Hatcheteers, led by Teetotal Tessie (Kelly Brents). Their shrill cries and horrifying yet almost comical expressions show they are brazen figures in the play. As they swing their axes about and snarl at other people, the audience was filled with hoots and shouts.

An aspect of this production that aids in its success is the high degree of audience participation. In Madison Drama's "Deadwood Dick," the audience can express their emotions as to what is happening on stage. Since the play can be interpreted as normal actors acting like certain characters, the play takes on a more realistic tone, proving to be easily relatable and hilarious to the audience.

The set was very effective, with every detail carefully thought out and designed. From the swinging door of the western saloon to the lasso hung on the wall, small details are what makes the western-style set come alive. Costumes in the play are also magnificent and very realistic. The colors that the cowboys wear, whether black or white, define whether they are good or evil. Background music also plays a prominent role in the production, provoking the feeling of great joy and suspense at specific moments during the play.

Madison Drama's production of "Deadwood Dick" proves to be a delightful show that the entire family can enjoy. It will lasso you back to the old western times, giving the audience the chance (with a bag of popcorn in hand) to meet helpless maidens, swaggering cowboys, and discover for themselves a deep, dark secret.

Lydia Gompper
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Hop on your horses and gallop on over to James Madison High School, because a night of cowboys, card games, true love, and lively fun awaits at their production of "Deadwood Dick."

Based on a popular series of nineteenth century dime novels by Edward L. Wheeler, "Deadwood Dick" follows the tradition of old Western melodrama, filled with mustached villains, dashing heroes, and lovely, woe-ridden heroines. The play follows the adventures and, of course, ultimate triumph of the pistol-wielding, horseback-riding heroes Wild Bill (Carson Casper) and Ned Harris (Henro Kriel) as they fight to save the beautiful sisters Lily and Rose Blossom (Justice Allen and Maille-Rose Smith, respectively) from the diabolical clutches of the evil Blackman Redburn (Ryaan Farhadi).

The students of James Madison High School succeeded in creating a performance that was dynamic and fantastically engaging. In the classic Western style, the show was an interactive experience, with audience members shouting warnings to the gallant heroes, boo-ing the evil-doings of the villains, and even chucking handfuls of popcorn onto the stage during moments of particular passion. Audience members were not passive observers of the onstage action; rather, they were an integral part of a wildly fun theatrical event. The actors, meanwhile, did not let the audience participation faze them. Instead, they seemed to feed on the energy they received from the crowd. One performer – Ryaan Farhadi, who portrayed the malevolent Blackman Redburn – even managed to catch a piece of popcorn in his mouth and swallow it, executing a fantastic moment that encompassed what was perhaps the greatest strength of the show: the true connection between the actors and their audience.

Of course, Farhadi's assets were not limited to his popcorn-catching skills. In his role as the show's black-clad villain, he was wonderfully creepy, while still charming and charismatic – the character the audience "loves to hate." Other standouts among the lead cast included Justice Allen as the pure, fragile Lily Blossom and Liv Wisnewski as the brass, morally gray saloon owner Calamity Jane. Allen not only committed wonderfully to her character's blindness, never allowing her eyes to quite focus, but she also impeccably executed the stock character of the sweet, comely damsel-in-distress. Wisnewski, meanwhile, was a commanding presence. Her character – an unpredictable woman who received both boos and cheers over the course of the show – was delightfully intriguing.

The excellence of this production was certainly a group effort. The supporting cast and ensemble were lively and devoted, with certain key characters, such as the adorable Russian cook Vassili (Michelle Uchitel) and the raging Temperance Crusader Teetotal Tessie (Kelly Brents), making lasting impressions. Meanwhile, set designers Faith Carlson and William Kegley found great success in their remarkable detailing of the Man-Trap Saloon, while costumers Bailey Bane and Claire Ashby created terrific stage pictures through their use of bright colors and era-appropriate styling.

James Madison High School's production of "Deadwood Dick" was magnetic. By actively engaging with their audience and inviting them into their Western world, the cast and crew built a show that was more than a performance – it was a true adventure.

Matthew Wisdom
Riverside High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

"Great Whale o' Jonah! I gotta feeling you're gonna enjoy yourself with us this evenin', more or less, considerably less ‘o more than more ‘o less!" Hold onto your hat as you travel back to the gold rush days of Deadwood Gulch, and join in on this illustrious tale of good and evil in these daring, gun-slinging times. Madison Drama's Deadwood Dick triumphantly merges melodrama with the Black Hills, while simultaneously finding comedy in every mischievous crack and bullet hole of Calamity Jane's bustling Man-trap Saloon.

Based on the dashing dime novels of Edward L. Wheeler, this western story follows the maniacal schemes of "Black'n Red," played by the energetic Ryaan Farhadi, and shows the never-ending attempts to derail his evil efforts by none other than Ned Harris and Wild Bill, lively western heroes played by Henro Kriel and Carson Casper. As Deadwood Dick is indeed a melodrama, this show cannot work in harmony without spirited and brave damsels in distress, played by Justice Allen and Maille-Rose Smith in the roles of Lily and Rose Blossom. This play seemingly relied on its sense of comedy and audience interaction to shine, and as this can be a difficult skill to grasp, MAD Drama's talent delivered a show in which laughter even overtook actor's lines at certain points. Popcorn flew, villains were enthusiastically booed and hissed at, and heroes and heroines were cheered until the curtain came to an unwelcome close. A show in which the talent can make an audience member leap out of their seat in joy is a very skilled team for sure.

With the play centered in Calamity Jane's Man-trap Saloon, a bustling resting place filled with intriguing and unique characters, Madison Drama's intelligent set design had audience members fixated on the smallest of details while feeling as if they were part of the western scene. Some standout comic performances include those of Kelly Brents, Michelle Uchitel, and Kaz Johnstone in the roles of Teetotal Tessie, Vassili, and Chet Pussy. Their performances fueled uncontrollable laughter and left the audience wanting more and more as the show progressed. Carson Casper in the role of Wild Bill is also to mentioned for his composed acting with sudden bursts of energy. This always seemed to keep the audience on its toes. Another special performance to note would definitely be that of Ryaan Farhadi, charismatically playing the role of "Black'n Red," a performance filled with swagger and attention to detail. As a villain, being booed, hissed at, and assaulted with mountains of popcorn only fueled his ability to keep the audience engaged with his mysterious and maniacal character. With large amounts of stage time, Ryaan ignited an evil fire under his role and created all that you would expect out of classic western antagonist.

With energetic performances, attention to detail, and thorough talent, MAD Drama's production of Deadwood Dick was a gun-slinging success through and through. With each of the three acts, energy swept from stage left to stage right, as smells of western spirit swept the air and convincingly travelled to the audience. Next time you find yourself west, be ready for a hilarious and lively adventure with Deadwood Dick!