Brookridge Center Medicine Show

Posted on 10/28/2008 at 5:41:38 PM

Saturday’s Medicine Show cast with special guest Mr. Washington.

Saturday October 25 the Buffalo Elixir Medicine Show played the Brookridge Retirement Center’s Parking Lot Theater. The show was a first testing of our new sound system. It worked well, however we discovered windsocks will be needed for the mics. The expanded show, included in a sing-along of Oklahoma tunes which our audience had requested (and practiced) in advance.

Due to our dedicated show participants The Medicine Show Wagon, stage and other equipment was seamlessly transported and set up with ample time to spare. The Center generously provided a sit down lunch for our cast. Although we missed several of our regulars we were able to switch roles and adjust the script to accommodate the understudies and the sing-along.

After arrival of those rowdy Marauders, Doc Holiday took the stage to tell a little of the history of the Medicine Show. The sing-along followed starting with the Possum Song and Odie, the Marauder Song with Lee Hibbetts & Blaine in the lead and then on too Oklahoma Hills, Home on the Range and Oklahoma! Audience participation was quite fun for all.

Dr. Philmont took the stage to promote his famous Buffalo Elixir. With the help of his assistant, Miss Goodbody, he solved Iwanna B. Noddy’s love life problem, Mr. Boggs crippled hands allowing to be able to play the harmonica again, restored Miss Bubbles Vyktoria  (of the Gotebo Follies) ability to dance and ridded Doc Holiday of his “dreaded tapeworm”. Other cast members gave the audience samples of Professor Philmont’s Famous Buffalo Elixir while the miraculous cures where happening.

A humorous interlude followed with Calamity Lee’s Hard Luck Tale of Woe accompanied by the sob sisters. As Professor Philmont was ended the show those two pesky outlaws accompanied by Iwanna B. Noddy came rushing up, and robbed the stage grabbing the show’s money bag. Marshal Payne and Marshal Odie rushed in and the outlaws hid in the audience. Rattlesnake put his hat on an innocent bystander to throw the law off their trail. The Professor and Miss Goodbody could only remember one was wearing a brown hat. As there were three people in the audience wearing brown hats, confusion reigned.  Things were finally sorted out, the outlaws uncovered wherein the gunfight ensued. After running out of bullets in a gunfight the fled leaving behind the bag of loot. The law decided to help themselves to a reward but all they found was Wilber, the Marauder’s Rattlesnake mascott.

We posed for a few photo op pictures with special guest Mr. Washington a popular former cook at Medicine Park Music Hall.  While we were loading the wagon and equipment, Iwanna returned a roll of tape to the Center. When she went in a woman stopped her and requested an encore of “Be My Little Bumble Bee”.  Which she performed to the delight of those near by.  Packed up we headed off into the sunset (okay it was just back to Medicine Park).