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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2019)
MARCH 15, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE B1 KEIZERTIMES.COM ‘The Pelvis’ goes missing in new Keizer Homegrown production By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Linda Baker was about ready to hand over the reins of Keizer Homegrown Threatre’s production of Elvis Has Left the Building when the intend- ed director’s play in another venue was held over. It was a blessing in disguise. “She would have had to pry it from my cold, dead hands. This cast is one of the best I’ve ever worked with and they are completely on their game,” Baker said. The play opens this week- end with shows March 15- 16, 22-23 and 29-30. Curtain time is 7 p.m. each night and 2 p.m. matinees on March 17, 24 and 31. Tickets are $15 and available at keizerhome- growntheatre.org. The play, written by Virgin- ia Cate and Duke Ernsberger, takes place in December 1970. Elvis Presley’s sly manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker, is all shook up because he’s racked up a debt and promised to make good on it using Elvis himself. The problem is “The Pelvis” has gone missing. Hi- larity ensues as Parker tries to solve the problem, including hypnotizing two underlings into thinking they are Elvis. Paul Nelson, plays Parker, a notoriously hated man in real life, but he took that as a chal- lenge. “He’s iconic, but nobody really knows what he was like KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald FAR LEFT: Tim Reid plays a hapless assistant who trans- forms into Elvis during the play. ABOVE: Accacia Nepote is journalist Jill Turner investi- gating the disappearance of the King of Rock. LEFT: Laura Davis, as secretary Trudy, gives Paul Nelson’s “Colonel” Tom Parker a piece of her mind. as a person. It’s not like having to play Elvis himself. My goal is try to make the audience like him because he was hat- ed. If I can do that, I feel like I’ll have done my job,” Nelson said. Laura Davis plays Parker’s German secretary Trudy and said she had her eye on the part since the troupe held its auditions. She said not to come in expecting high-quality Elvis impersonation, but that is part of the charm. “We just have fun, that’s re- ally it. It’s a farce. It is unseri- ous,” she said. While there’s more physi- cal comedy than she’s typical- ly tackled, Davis said the she enjoys being the power player in the otherwise male-domi- nated cast. “She’s a bit of a spitfi re. In the man’s world of this play, she can run the guys around a bit. She runs the offi ce and the show,” Davis said. It’s Parker’s two support staffers Candy, played by Bra- den Pippert, and Roscoe, played by Tim Reid, that end up attempting to fi ll Presley’s shoes when the heat is on. “Candy is basically The Colonel’s fi xer who is called in to try and help him fi gure out what to do. The hardest part for me is not watching Tim because he makes me break character,” Pippert said. Reid describes Roscoe as “nerdy offi ce assistant with an Elvis fetish.” Reid, who pre- ferred sports to the stage in high school, said this play feels more like a sporting event. “I’m always dripping sweat after the second act,” he said. Reid, a college professor, said he hopes some of his stu- dents decide to turn out for the show. “I try to have a sense of humor to keep them engaged, but I hope they come and see this because I’m having a blast,” he said.