ENSEMBLE MAKES `BUS STOP' WORTH TAKING A SEAT FOR : THE FACTS.Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News A line from an old song goes, ``try a little tenderness'' - an apt phrase to denote the theme for the love story in ``Bus Stop,'' the current Young Artists Ensemble production now playing at the Arts Council An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad. Center in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. . The play offers an intriguing, timeless blend of drama, action and humor. The love story of Bo, a young, brash cowboy (a charismatic Chris Ellis), who forces his attentions on Cherie, an even younger saloon singer (the sweet/sexy Sara Lin Quick) takes place in a small town Kansas bus stop restaurant. Hot-headed hot-headed Adjective impetuous, rash, or hot-tempered hot-headedness n hot-headed adjective volatile , rough and ignorant of the social graces, Bo comes with his buddy Virgil to participate in a Kansas City Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). rodeo. When he visits a local saloon, he spots Cherie singing and he immediately loses his heart to her. Assuming she feels the same way, he kidnaps her, taking her back via bus to his Montana ranch to marry her. Forced to be together because of a snowstorm, the play's assorted characters reveal their hopes and fear as they get to know one another. Grace (played with saucy sauc·y adj. sauc·i·er, sauc·i·est 1. a. Impertinent or disrespectful. b. Impertinent in an entertaining way; impossible to repress or control. 2. humor by Morgan Lindsey Tachco), who calls herself a grass widow grass widow n. 1. A woman who is divorced or separated from her husband. 2. A woman whose husband is temporarily absent. 3. An abandoned mistress. 4. The mother of a child born out of wedlock. , runs the restaurant with the help of Elma, a high school student (an appealing Georgia Lange). Intending to alleviate some of her loneliness, Grace has her eye on Carl, the bus driver (the likable Stephen Jon Torres). The unsophisticated Elma is intrigued by the Shakespeare-spouting, alcoholic Dr. Gerald Lyman (an intense performance by Seth Allen), purportedly a disillusioned dis·il·lu·sion tr.v. dis·il·lu·sioned, dis·il·lu·sion·ing, dis·il·lu·sions To free or deprive of illusion. n. 1. The act of disenchanting. 2. The condition or fact of being disenchanted. college professor. To keep the peace and share a bit of wisdom with the recalcitrant recalcitrant adjective Poorly responsive to therapy Bo are Will, the sheriff, portrayed with honesty by Brian C. Donohue, and Bo's older, self-sacrificing buddy Virgil, sensitively played by Yoni yoni In Hinduism, a representation of the female sexual organ and feminine generative power, the symbol of the goddess Shakti (see shakti). The yoni is often associated with the phallic linga, the symbol of the god Shiva. Gordon. Virgil tells the straight-arrow Bo - who doesn't drink, smoke or casually dally with women - that he can't force Cherie to marry him; he must learn to be gallant. ``You ought to have some bad habits to rely on when things with women go wrong,'' Virgil amusingly laments when Cheri has vehemently told Bo to back off. Finally, after a fistfight with the sheriff, the hard-headed Bo is perceptive enough to get the message. He transforms his actions into tender feelings and wins Cherie's heart. Kudos to Preston Sparks for his excellent direction and for a well-designed, believable set, which came complete with the sights, smells and sounds of a real restaurant. The perpetual howling of a winter wind in the background added to the atmosphere. The consistent talents of the Young Artists Ensemble actors continue to amaze this reviewer. Within minutes of the latest production opening, whatever it is, the youthful faces disappear and are taken over by the play's characters. WHAT: ``Bus Stop'' by William Lange WHEN: Thursday to Sundays at 7:30 p.m. through Jan. 25 WHERE: The Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks COST: $7.50 per person INFORMATION: (805) 381-2747 CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: The sheriff, Brian C. Donahue, left, admonishes Bo, Chris Ellis, in the Young Artists Ensemble production of ``Bus Stop.'' |
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