Under the Big Top at Showtime 2009
By Carolyn Schuk
Everyone loves a circus. And they love it even more when it rolls into town as part of Santa Clara's annual Showtime, an evening of old-fashioned live entertainment that includes a written-for-the-occasion melodrama, variety acts and plenty of audience participation.
This year's show raised between $15,000 and $16,000 for senior wellness programs from admissions, donations, opportunity drawings and food sales, according to Lee Broughman, Treasurer of the Santa Clara Women's League, the organization that annually undertakes the formidable task of putting on Showtime.
While there were many familiar faces among the performers and volunteers, one beloved Santa Clara figure was missing: the mother of Showtime, Cleo Stuckrath, whose health prevented her from attending this year's show.
A longtime community activist and journalist, Cleo created Showtime to replace funding for senior services cut as a result of Proposition 13, California's now three-decade-old property tax cap.
For 25 years Cleo was Showtime's playwright, producer, production manager, stage director, set designer, wardrobe mistress, choreographer, and prop master. When poor health forced her to step down two years ago, Cleo passed the baton to co-producers and directors Robin Burdick and Rick Mauck.
Mauck wrote this year's melodrama, Splitting Hares or, Three’s a Crowd. It's the story of conjoined triplets, Holly, Happy and Heidi Hare (Bev Schuler, Hillary Brookshire, and Elaine Lewis), the machinations of criminal confederates Mr. and Mrs. Underwood (Bill and Joan Cannon) and "Honest John" Blackbottom (John Petersen) to rig an election, gain custody of the triplets, and sell them to the highest bidder.
Competing for the triplets are nutty professor Dr. Ripley (Carolyn Schuk) – who has an elixir for separating the girls – and circus mistress T.P. Barnum (Pam Morrison) who wants the triplets as a sideshow attraction.
Just when it looks like the villains' diabolical plot has succeeded, Sheriff Sam (Rick Mauck) proves that the town's newfangled voting machine has been tampered with. More surprises come when Mother Hare (Rosemary Huza), presumed dead from an "unfortunate fall" from the bridge, reappears to accuse Blackbottom and the Underwoods of attempted murder.
The felons are dragged away to jail, the elixir frees the triplets to pursue their separate destinies, and all goes right and romantic in the end. Or at least until next year's show.
Rounding out the cast were: romantic lead Timothy T. Ortis (Andrew Hyatt), an easily-hoodwinked Board of Elections (Rita Dietrich, Polly Haleck, Linda Sutton and Char Blake, who doubled as an ethically questionable voting machine salesperson), Deputy Sheriff (Peter Sparaco), Barnum's colorful clown entourage (Linda Clements, Chris De Groot, Sheri Mauck, Jonathan Thomson, Alexandra Thomson) led by the irrepressible Up Chuck (Arlene Rose) and Barnum's go-to guy Rousty (Steve Gustafson), and a nosy reporter (Larry Sacks) with a nose for a story.
The undisputed star of this year's show was Zoey, an amiable St. Bernard, barking remarkably on-cue as the Ferocious Circus Animal. In fact, Zoey demonstrated better command of the script at some points than two-legged cast members.
"The story was cute," comments the Women's League's Broughman. "It was novel, especially the triplets and the circus. The clowns were the best."
A well-balanced variety program rounded out the second half of the program.
Baritone Michael Taylor performed the delightful Where Is The Life That Once I Led from the musical Kiss Me, Kate, a selection that showcased the Mission City Opera Music Director's own superb gifts as a performer.
Comedian-magician Phil Ackerly, a Santa Clara favorite, was back with his signature conjuring act, while the Town Square Harmonizers' ringing barbershop harmonies reminded folks that some songs never get out-of-date. As he has done for several years, Santa Clara's Singing Cop Craig Sala closed the show with his Elvis cover, charming ladies old and young with I Can't help Falling in Love With You.
With all this talent on offer, many might find picking a favorite difficult. However, Tristan, 6, and Tenaya, 2, had no difficulty naming their Showtime favorite: their grandfather, "Papa Rick," as Sheriff Sam.
Interested in participating in Showtime? No acting experience is required – all you need is interest and a good sense of humor. Call the Santa Clara Senior Center at (408) 615-3170 for more information.
Carolyn Schuk can be reached at cschuk@earthlink.net.
