Magdalena – Christmas, 1936: it’s a traditional holiday season in rural New Mexico, though changes are coming, with Roosevelt’s second term, the Social Security act just initiated, and the New Deal Works Progress Administration and farm programs.
http://sonewmex.com/images/gang.jpg
But it’s been another bad drought year, and times are still hard for ranchers and farmers. Everyone needs a little “extry” to get by and maybe even buy a few simple presents.
Manny Aragon, driving his old flivver and with Cass Trotter as his hapless passenger, is now a mail-carrier delivering orders from the Wish Book, while Ruby Aragon and Gardy Trotter make candy to sell to friends and neighbors. Mr. Gibbers has entered county politics and is, as usual, doing just fine.
But holiday preparations don’t go quite as planned. Too many deserving folks need a little help; a young girl, sent to stay with relatives, is stranded at the Magdalena railroad depot; and with a blizzard sweeping across the plains, Manny becomes Lost Wife Creek’s legendary Lost Santa.<img src=http://sonewmex.com/banners/lftc_ad.gif border=1 align=right hspace=5>
On, Donder & Blitzen! is not only a Christmas home-coming in Lost Wife Creek and for the audiences who’ve followed the (mis-)adventures of the Aragons & Trotters through the Great Depression, but for the cast as well. For the first time in two years (since Wandering Star & Little Glory, Christmas, 2004), the original cast who brought to life Ruby (Anne-Marie Clark) and Manny (Fernando Montano), Cass (Frank Howard) and Gardy (Donna Todd), and Yuel Gibbers (Donald Wiltshire) are together again.
“We hope you’ll join us for this happy holiday reunion,” says Donna Todd.
Featured in New Mexico Magazine, and reviewed as, “Historic, nostalgic, hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable”, LFTC’s popular Lost Wife Creek series (now in its 11th episode, each a complete play in itself) is set in southwestern New Mexico and rollicks along to bluegrass banjo.
Performers in On, Donder & Blitzen! are Anne-Marie Clark, Frank Howard, Lilly Jones, Donna Todd, and Donald Wiltshire, all of Magdalena, and Fernando Montano, of Socorro. Donald Wiltshire is also Lighting and Set Designer. Videographer is Michael Mideke. Script is by Donna Todd, who also directs.
Performances of On, Donder & Blitzen! a Lost Wife Creek Christmas, are Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9, both at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, December 10, at 2:00 PM, in Magdalena’s WPA Theatre, Main at Fourth St. Tickets are $3.50 for Adults, $2.00 for Children.
For further information/reservations, please call London Frontier Theatre at (505) 854-2519.
This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Article Contributed By London Frontier Theatre Company
© 2006 LFTC - Permission To Reprint Granted
Magdalena – Christmas, 1936: it’s a traditional holiday season in rural New Mexico, though changes are coming, with Roosevelt’s second term, the Social Security act just initiated, and the New Deal Works Progress Administration and farm programs.
http://sonewmex.com/images/gang.jpg
But it’s been another bad drought year, and times are still hard for ranchers and farmers. Everyone needs a little “extry” to get by and maybe even buy a few simple presents.
Manny Aragon, driving his old flivver and with Cass Trotter as his hapless passenger, is now a mail-carrier delivering orders from the Wish Book, while Ruby Aragon and Gardy Trotter make candy to sell to friends and neighbors. Mr. Gibbers has entered county politics and is, as usual, doing just fine.
But holiday preparations don’t go quite as planned. Too many deserving folks need a little help; a young girl, sent to stay with relatives, is stranded at the Magdalena railroad depot; and with a blizzard sweeping across the plains, Manny becomes Lost Wife Creek’s legendary Lost Santa.<img src=http://sonewmex.com/banners/lftc_ad.gif border=1 align=right hspace=5>
On, Donder & Blitzen! is not only a Christmas home-coming in Lost Wife Creek and for the audiences who’ve followed the (mis-)adventures of the Aragons & Trotters through the Great Depression, but for the cast as well. For the first time in two years (since Wandering Star & Little Glory, Christmas, 2004), the original cast who brought to life Ruby (Anne-Marie Clark) and Manny (Fernando Montano), Cass (Frank Howard) and Gardy (Donna Todd), and Yuel Gibbers (Donald Wiltshire) are together again.
“We hope you’ll join us for this happy holiday reunion,” says Donna Todd.
Featured in New Mexico Magazine, and reviewed as, “Historic, nostalgic, hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable”, LFTC’s popular Lost Wife Creek series (now in its 11th episode, each a complete play in itself) is set in southwestern New Mexico and rollicks along to bluegrass banjo.
Performers in On, Donder & Blitzen! are Anne-Marie Clark, Frank Howard, Lilly Jones, Donna Todd, and Donald Wiltshire, all of Magdalena, and Fernando Montano, of Socorro. Donald Wiltshire is also Lighting and Set Designer. Videographer is Michael Mideke. Script is by Donna Todd, who also directs.
Performances of On, Donder & Blitzen! a Lost Wife Creek Christmas, are Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9, both at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, December 10, at 2:00 PM, in Magdalena’s WPA Theatre, Main at Fourth St. Tickets are $3.50 for Adults, $2.00 for Children.
For further information/reservations, please call London Frontier Theatre at (505) 854-2519.
This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
- London Frontier Theater Company