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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 2019)
4 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Visual arts, literature, theater, music & more HiStOrY In ThE ReMaKiNg ASOC’s ‘The Real Lewis and Clark Story’ a newer, better version of the expedition Colin Murphey Performers during a dress rehearsal of ‘The Real Lewis and Clark Story’ at the Astor Street Opry Company Playhouse. By NICOLE BALES FOR COAST WEEKEND IF YOU GO A The Real Lewis and Clark Story (or How Finns Discovered Astoria) fter a one-year hiatus, “The Real Lewis and Clark Story (or How Finns Discovered Astoria)” is back for its ninth show at Astor Street Opry Com- pany. The play will run Friday, March 29, through Saturday, April 20. “The Real Lewis and Clark Story” is one of three melodramas the Astor Street Opry Company stages regularly. The show pulls characters from the company’s other melodramas like Krooke, Sneake, Mama and the sturdy sisters. “It’s a semi-historical viewpoint of the expedition,” said the show’s director, Jayne Osborn. The first two acts follow Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in St. Charles, Mo., as they get ready to head west. The third act leaps 18 months into the journey. Krooke is still the bad guy, and, for generational accuracy, it is Krooke’s great-great-grandfather who leads Lewis and Clark on the Corps of Discovery in hopes that he will get rich. “When he finally figures out that all he is getting are maps and journals he loses his mind,” Jayne said. “It’s hysterical!” An ASOC production wouldn’t be the same without Mama trying to marry off When: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays begin- ning Friday, March 29 with 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7 and 14 Where: Astor Street Opry Company Play- house, 129 W. Bond St. Tickets: asocplay.com and ASOC Play- house box office. Colin Murphey The cast of ‘The Real Lewis and Clark Story’ gathered before a dress rehearsal. her daughters. The “sturdy women” are pushing 40 and follow the Corps of Dis- covery to find husbands. “There’s a lot of women’s power in this show, too,” Osborn said. “Miss Jaynie Barnes is the pub owner in Act Two. She is a very capable woman with her own busi- ness and doesn’t put up with crap.” The show takes another leap when they finally make it to the coast. Meanwhile, the Park Ranger, played by Patricia Von Vintage, communicates with the audience to keep the story as historically accurate as possible. The show strays from a strict historical retelling to stay loyal to Astoria’s Scandi- navian heritage. “All the characters are all Finnish, Norwegian or Scandinavian,” said Stephanie Osborn, the director’s assistant. “I think it’s one of the silliest ones I’ve seen of the three melodramas we do,” Jayne said. “It makes me laugh the hardest.” Challenges As opening night approaches, ASOC has had to meet several challenges. “It’s been hard to have a full cast,” Jayne said. “It’s also really hard to find musicians — they’re just expensive.” “We’re a community theater ...,” she See History, Page 13
