Wagon Wheels West

Last week Alyssa took part in her school's play, "Wagon Wheels West." It was a comical story about a town along the Santa Fe trail which is tormented by a mysterious outlaw "the snake" who robs wagon trains and local citizens. A civic minded local woman forces her brother to run for mayor to clean up the town (since women can't hold public office). Meanwhile a wagon train loses a wheel and comes to the town of Vinegar Bottle to get their wheel fixed. It turns out that Smiling Slade Clagett, the local Saloon owner is in fact the snake. He has been hiring outlaws to do his dirty work (and paying them in beans & with a tiny shack to live in). However, before things resolve, the wagon master gets accused to stealing a diamond necklace (He is framed by Smiling Slade and the Saloon lady and his side kick, Sue Flay). Wagon master Chuck Wagon is condemned to hang at "low noon." Meanwhile, outlaws kidnap Candy Cane, a girl who is part of the wagon train, and who is Chuck's romantic interest. She escapes with the information to free Chuck from hanging. Chuck then wins a shootout with the Snake, the new mayor is elected and it's happily ever after.

Alyssa played the part of a woman stranded in Vinegar Bottle who wants to join the wagon train. It was not a really big part, but she did have several lines and was on the stage for much of the play.

The play was really fun and very well done, especially when you consider all the limitations they work under...such as giving a part to everyone who tries out, not being able to set up the stage, lighting and technical until a few days before the performance, and being in a room with terrible acoustics which requires the kids to wear microphones which occasionally don't work.