Lew Weatherell remembers when Ranchers and Rustlers was performed for the first time at the Souris Valley Theatre back in the 1990s.
Weatherell was part of the cast when the musical, written by Randy Apostle, made its local debut. He played Luke, who, along with his wife Katie, owns the bar where the musical is set. Twenty-seven years later, he’s back to do it again.
Ranchers and Rustlers opened at the theatre on July 2. Performances will take place nightly until July 6; a matinee was also held on July 4.
A second and final week of performances will happen from July 9-13 at 7:30 p.m. A 2 p.m. matinee will also happen on July 13.
Weatherell was also in Estevan when the musical was performed in 1994. Each time he played Luke, who owns the Red Rose Saloon.
“I think this play will far surpass the last version. The first version I did was pretty good. We had a really good cast. It was a very good show. The second time around, the cast might not have been quite as up to snuff.
“This time around, we have a very good cast. They have really brought it. We have a bit of a shorter rehearsal period, and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of getting it on its feet.”
People have been working hard to make sure that the show and all of the technical aspects are ready to go.
“All we could do was just do our homework and make sure that we knew our lines and knew our songs, and retain everything that they tell us.”
Spectators can look forward to having a lot of fun and a lot of laughs in this rendition of Ranches and Rustlers. For those who enjoy the older country music, Weatherell predicted they will have a really good time.
“It’s a fun script. There’s a lot of silly stuff going on. People are really going to enjoy it.”
Weatherell has fond memories of his time performing in Estevan. He debuted locally in 1991 as part of the cast of the Volstead Blues. It was when the theatre was in an outdoor setting at Tee One Up (now Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort).
The next two times he performed, it was under a tent.
Now they have Frehlick Hall at the theatre’s grounds inside the Woodlawn Regional Park.
“They didn’t have this wonderful facility that you guys have developed. It’s a nice facility. It’s a little hot, but it’s a nice space, it’s a nice size.”
Not only is Frehlick Hall great for the theatre, but he believes it would be great for any group that wants to use it.
He remembers that he always had a really good time whenever he was in Estevan.
The rest of the cast is filled with first-time performers at the theatre. Keyanna Burgher is a first-time performer who has the role of Annabel. She said the character is a bit of a showgirl at the Red Rose Saloon, and has a romance with the sheriff.
The character also gets to perform a lot of fun songs, she said.
Even though she is originally from Moose Jaw, Burgher had no idea that Estevan had a facility like this until arriving in the community.
“I was very involved in the Saskatchewan theatre scene when I lived here, but I didn’t know that this existed, and so it’s cool to come back after living in B.C. for a few years, and to do a show at this really, really awesome venue,” said Burgher, who now lives in Vernon.
Burgher said she loves the experience of the cast living in the trailer next to Frehlick Hall. They wake up in the morning and head right into the theatre for rehearsals.
“The outside is beautiful, and the weather has been so awesome, so living at the theatre has been such a fun experience,” she said.
Ranchers and Rustlers is a fun show to be a part of. Even if people aren’t a fan of country music, they’ll still find themselves singing and clapping along, and the dancing is so “contagious” and there is a variety of music.
The rehearsals went well, and she was looking forward to performing the show for the first time on July 2, and hearing the laughter and the energy. She couldn’t believe how quickly it came together.
“That’s what happens when you have a bunch of professional actors who can get their stuff done in a couple of days.”
She’s also aware that Ranchers & Rustlers ranks among the most popular productions the theatre has ever staged. She hopes the fans of the show will come and see this latest version of it.
“I am obviously biased, because I love our cast, but I think this is the best one yet,” said Burgher.
Darian Ames, meanwhile, will play the role of Johnny Miller, who has his goofy moments and youthful romance. A resident of Edmonton, he is in Saskatchewan for the first time.
“It’s very fun, very country (music). I love the country of it.”
He referred to Ranchers and Rustlers as a juke box musical, so it has the music of other country musicians put to the script that was written. The songs are weaved from one to another, and made it work for the story that was written.
Rehearsals went well, and he was looking forward to getting on stage.
Ames gained the opportunity to perform in Estevan after one of his former professors spoke to the director about Ames. He auditioned and landed the part.
Ames has been marvelling at the theatre since he arrived.
“I’ve never seen a theatre that has just a tin roof over it, and that’s it, so that was really cool to come and see.”
He’s aware that Ranchers and Rustlers has been performed in Estevan in the past, and that Weatherell was part of previous productions. He thinks it’s great to be part of a show that has been so popular over the years.
