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.