The “Cowboy Kidnapping Mystery,” a first-of-its-kind show for the Mancos Melt, held Friday at the Mancos Opera House, did better than organizer Linda Simmons dreamed.
“I can’t believe that many people came,” Simmons said.
Simmons was crossing her fingers before the show that half the 100 seats would fill. In the end, seats were added as about 140 people attended the Western-themed mystery, set during a dude ranch’s annual talent show.
The show earned $1,100 for the Mancos Valley Historical Society, and Simmons is already planning next year’s event, likely a melodrama.
“It was the most amazing volunteer work I have ever seen,” Simmons said. About 50 volunteers took part in the play.
She called soundman Philip Walters, whom she call “a miracle man.”
Boe Hawkins gave a memorable performance as Sherlock Homes-on-the-Range, and Rayne Grant belted out a Johnny Cash song that had people tapping their feet.
Cast
Perry D. Lewis: (The Colonel) Raised in Mancos, Lewis has served on the town board and as mayor pro tem. This is his acting debut.
Adriene Ratican: (Miss Arabella) Ratican came from St. Louis and is a CAbi clothing consultant. She serves on the Mancos Melt committee.
Boe Hawkins: (Sherlock Homes-on-the-Range and MC) A Mancos native, Hawkins has experience in high school drama and the Mancos Theatre Company. He is active in VFW and the Masons. This is his first experience singing on stage. By day, Boe works on large machinery.
Linda Simmons: (Organa and MC) In a great step from high school drama to writing shows for the Durango Cowboy Gathering, Simmons is a retired professor who is active in the historical society.
Rena Wilson: (Lila) Wilson is from Michigan, and has lived in the Mancos area 20 years. She has served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and is on committees for the Creative District, the Mancos Melt, and the School of the West. She’s an artist.
Darcy Freegard: (Willy O’Day) Freegard, from Santa Barbara, Calif., was swooped up upon her recent arrival to the Mancos community. She has varied stage experience.
Drew Simmons: (Sheriff Drew) Simmons grew up in Mancos, where he had his first acting experience in 4-H. He later followed the rodeo road and is now a volunteer firemen.
Donna Petersen: (Westy James) Peterson, who hails from northeast Illinois, is secretary of the Mancos Valley Historical Society. This is her first stage performance. She rounded up the hors d’oeuvres for the performance.
The Musicians and poets
Peggy Bade: (Pianist Peggy) Bade hails from Missouri, where she learned to play music by ear and sing before she started school. She has performed professionally and plays piano, organ, and dulcimer.
Rayne Grant: (Vocalist) Born in Durango, Grant developed skills as a singer, songwriter, poet, filmmaker, and documentarian. She has been singing for 20 years.
Carolyn “Koko” Smith: (Hammer dulcimer) Smith, from Seattle, has been a musician for 70 years, 55 of them teaching piano.
Beth Wheeler: (Ukulele) Wheeler grew up in Indiana, but has called this area home for 31 years. She can tap dance, sing, and play flute, guitar, and percussion.
Herb Folsom: (Guitar) Folsom comes from New York, but has been in Mancos for 29 years. The well-known performer plays guitar for Mancos Days. By trade, he is a picture framer and guitar instructor.
Lynne Belle Lewis: (Western vocal and guitar) From Illinois, Lewis found home in Mancos 22 years ago. She plays guitar and piano has singing engagements. She helps run a horse stable and is a photographer.
Sandi Walker: (Cowboy poetry) Walker was raised on a ranch south of Durango. She has played guitar, sang and otherwise performed since 1984 at family gatherings weddings, funerals or “wherever two or more are gathered.” She has been on stage at the Durango Cowboy Gathering.
Cliff Schmid: (Cowboy poetry) Cliff was raised in a log house near Telluride on what is now a Colorado Centennial Farm. After the Army, he became a survey engineer, now runs a cattle ranch near Ignacio and writes cowboy poetry and prose. His novel “Mis(s) Fortune” is available on Amazon.com.
Rick Randolph: (Western vocal and guitar) Randolph is a Mancos-raised cowboy who lives in Dolores. He has had stints in the Mancos Follies and Durango Cowboy Gathering.
Tawni Morris: (Fiddle) Morris was born in Durango and raised in Texas and Nashville, Tenn. She plays the fiddle, guitar and mandolin.
Nick Lawrence: (Banjo) Lawrence has been strumming banjo for seven years. Healso plays the claw hammer, banjo, mandolin and bluegrass banjo. He hails from Lander, Wyo.
Doug Figgs: (Western vocal and guitar) Figgs is a cowboy, horseshoer and singer/songwriter. He comes from Lemitar, N.M. He has been nominated for many western music awards, and is known for his tours throughout the Southwest, in which he sings original songs such as “It’s All About the Horses.”
Linda Simmons contributed the biographical information for this story.