‘Royal Bachelor’ ends run at Tekoa’s Empire Theatre

Rouge, mascara, lots of lace, wigs and hairspray made it onto the stage of the historic Empire Theatre in Tekoa last week, making that stage creak with the rowdy acting of yet another cast.

Students from the Garfield/Palouse Middle School performed the Royal Bachelor at the Tekoa theatre after a performance at the school.

The Royal Bachelor is a musical comedy. Queen Eva (Sammi Johnson) dies, unexpectedly passing her throne to a country bumpkin Yokel (Adrian Green) who must then choose a wife. A string of wild American women show up and audition American-Idol-style to be Yokel’s wife. The show featured an unexpected finish.

A 20-member audience of parents, siblings, family, and community members showed up for the performance at the Tekoa theatre March 26.

Garfield/Palouse activities director Bob Russell said in an interview with the Gazette that evening the students had their pick of five scripts for this performance and chose the Royal Bachelor.

The theatre program at the junior high is an extra-curricular activity. Students began working on the play a few hours a week after school in December. Practices were at the school’s theatre and were more frequent throughout February and March as performance day drew closer.

“We think the experience the kids have with a real theatre and real acoustics and real seats is good. They love it,” Russell said of the Empire.

The cast got a few giggles from the audience with a show-tune style rap and Caribbean tunes.

“I think they’re just doing a good job,” said Tekoa Empire Theatre director Cheryl Morgan.