Randy Vaughn-Dotta / Fresno State
Back in the 1850’s, people were quick to label someone as a heathen, using subtle clues of blasphemy, fighting or adultery as proof for conviction.
The newest play at Fresno State, “Heathen Valley,” began this past weekend. In the play, written by Romulus Linney and directed by Bradley Myers, a Bishop and his newly appointed missionary take on the challenge of saving the heathens of a small town in the Appalachian Mountains.
The play is set in a poor village, which is reflected by the sparse setting elements and props. The stage is made of wood, with five wood towers and one small wood podium. The bare stage allows the audience to solely focus on each of the six actors.
The leading characters””Episcopal Bishop of North Carolina, ex-convict William Starns and the story’s troubled narrator Billy were sent to save the heathens. The other three characters were the townsfolk in Heathen Valley: Juba the midwife, Harlan (a man who marries his sister and is a little crazy) and Cora (who is Harlan’s other sister and would-be wife).
Starns was born near the mountain town, and was delivered by Juba, so the bishop saw fit to put him in charge of the monastery. He knows that “the poor have poor ways,” but he is determined to turn the town around. Justin Ringhofer portrays Starns in a way that the audience can relate to him. After Starns gets through a tough situation the audience breaths a sigh of relief and when he triumphs, the audience grows in excitement. When he dances””well, you have to see that one for yourselves.
You would not think that it would be the bishop that would leave a sour taste in your mouth at the end of the play but it is. Mark Halverson portrays the bishop perfectly. Halverson does not miss a beat in his arguments with people. The bishop claims “I save souls, that is what I do.” Keep your ears open when he talks. Listen to Bryce Earp, who plays Billy, speak of the bishop and then the truth will be heard.
Other then Starns, the Heathen Valley residents steal the show.
Emily Rose McLeod does a fine job at being the level-headed representative of her town. She is the glue that holds everyone in the play together.
Matthew Rudolf Schiltz, who plays Harlan, shows his acting range by playing a character that goes from crazy to relatively sane in a short span of time. He is also a great stage fighter.
Cora, portrayed by Kelsey Deroian, is the person who makes the audience laugh the most. She knows “preachers are all talk and no comprehension.” She is able to make people think that life in the Appalachians is not that bad.
Though the script is interesting and gives the audience members a glimpse into the 19th century, the acting is the thing to see in this play.
Additional performances will be held in the Dennis and Cheryl Woods Theatre at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Student tickets are $10.