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Thursday, May 13, 2021
GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon
Get ready for ‘La Rue’s Return’
■ Actor’s Studio records play and sells DVDs as a fundraiser
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
BAKER CITY — Jacques La
Rue is out of prison, and the good
folks of New Orleans are abuzz
with the news of this notorious
criminal.
They’re on the lookout, but that
won’t stop the plan of the nefarious
Jacques La Rue.
So begins the melodrama of “La
Rue’s Return,” a play presented by
Actor’s Studio to raise funds for the
Kiwanis Club of Baker City, and
specifi cally the cancer program at
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in
Portland.
The connection? Isabella Evans,
who plays the Swamp Crone in “La
Rue’s Return,” was treated at Do-
ernbecher when she was diagnosed
with T-cell leukemia in 2011.
She’s now a junior at Eastern
Oregon University.
Because of public health regula-
tions, rather than present the
play to a live audience the actors
rehearsed at home and came
together to fi lm once a week.
A DVD is now on sale at Random
Resales & Riches, 2450 Cherry St.,
Baker City, or at www.actorsstu-
dioinc.com. Cost of the DVD is $15,
or the play can be streamed for the
same price. Those from afar can
request a DVD by mail for $20.
“La Rue’s Return” was written by
Edward Thorpe and Scott Cherney.
The writers granted permission for
Actor’s Studio to tweak the play
a bit — one character was added
as well as some content related to
the current health guidelines to
explain why the actors are wearing
face shields.
The entire DVD runs about 85
ON THE COVER:
Jen Cikanek (left) and Karsten
Cikanek work on a scene for
“La Rue’s Return.”
minutes, and was produced by
Gary Hutton.
The play is set in a Louisiana
bar where barkeep Ike (played by
Kendall Cikanek) runs the place
for Polly Montclair (played by
Twila Lavery and Joelene Murray),
who is still recovering after being
poisoned by La Rue.
When La Rue (Doug Evans)
discovers that Polly is about to in-
herit $22,000 and the deed for land
in Oregon, he hatches a plan to
convince innocent maid Mimi (Jen
Cikanek) to steal the money.
Lieutenant Alan Wexstad
(Karsten Cikanek) is charged with
delivering the money to Polly, but
he is easily hoodwinked and has
to think fast when La Rue makes
off with the loot. Bar regular Lazlo
(played by John Murray) joins the
fray as everyone tries to track down
the criminal.
A chase through the bayou and
a bit of magic by the Swamp Crone
and her minion (Jarren Cikanek)
helps good triumph over evil —
Actor’s Studio/Contributed Photos
The cast of “La Rue’s Return” includes, from left, Doug Evans, Kendall Cikanek, Jen Cikanek, Twila Lavery, Karsten
Cikanek, John Murray, Isabella Evans and (in front) Jarren Cikanek.
with a few mishaps along the way.
Scenes were fi lmed at the Ison
House Bed and Brew in Baker City,
as well as an outdoor location to
mimic the bayou scenes.
This is the second fundraising
Providing quality and compassion to all his patients.
Be safe, wear masks,
stay distanced: we will
get through this.
Thank you. Mae
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Baker City office hours:
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Clinic hours: Tuesday 8am-5pm
Thursday 8am-12pm
Clinic offices in Ontario (every other monday)
John Day (every other monday)
La Grande (every Wednesday)
541-524-0122
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
DVD produced by Actor’s Studio. To
learn more, visit www.actorsstudio-
inc.com.
OPEN for private classes only.
Please call 541.519.8802 to schedule.
Or, email mbybakercity@gmail.com
1923 Court Ave, Baker City, Oregon
(541) 519-8802
FRIDAY
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High 75 Low 46
High 73 Low 42
High 73 Low 43
Clouding up
Lots of sun; nice
A shower possible