Nov. 24, 2009 — Susanville Repertoire Company performed at the Elks Lodge the weekend of Friday, Nov. 13 with a production of “Dirty Deeds at the Depot.”   

The play was originally written by Gary McCarver, and directors Jon France and Tom Gauthier received permission to change and alter the play to make it all things Susanville.   

The time was 1895 and it followed the stories of numerous characters throughout this time of change and development caused by the railroad.   

According to the play’s program, it features “mayhem, mystery and scoundrels set in a small western town railroad depot.”   

What made this play unique was it involved audience participation “to support their favorite schemer or villain in the cast” through cards held up by Riki Dimond over the course of the production.   

Creator Jon France played the role of the villainous Professor Thaddeus Mack who arrived in the small town of Susanville and wrecked havoc among its citizens by selling them his magical elixir.   

His magical elixir occupied the citizens long enough to allow him to steal gold from the Depot’s safe, but the Sheriff, played by Soloman Everta, saved the day.   

Not only did the play follow the dirty deeds of Professor Mack but it also followed the story of Lacie Camisole, played by Shawna Elder and Ashley Morgan, who was caught between the true love of her past Justin Tyme, played by George Markle, and Dusty Trails, the boy from Texas her father approves of, played by Seanne McElrath.   

The audience fell for Lacie’s sweetness and laughed profusely over Dusty’s silliness.   

There were several songs accompanying the arrival of every new train and anytime someone was heading north, much to the dismay of the Judge Jerry Maner, played by Lassen County Times very own Patrick Shillito. Anytime a song would break out, Judge left in frustration over the happy tunes.   

In the full-length melodrama, Susanville was represented as a fun, laid-back western town with plenty of mishaps to keep things interesting.   

Mark Sanders and Jason Wheeler had double-duty throughout the production. Sanders played the role of Cy Kosis, who channeled the role Billy Bob Thornton made infamous in Slingblade, as well as took care of the sound for the performances. Wheeler played the role of Wyatt Earp and he is credited for building the set.    

Sandy Jonas was the producer for the show and she was unable to attend but she was there in spirit with a shout-out to her at the beginning of every show.   

The production wouldn’t have happened without the support of the community and local businesses.   

Their main sponsor is Eagle him Mortgage whom they thank at each production with a jingle. Other sponsors include: Margie’s Book Nook, the UPS store, Lassen County Times, Best of Broadway, Susanville Elks Lodge, Susanville Real Estate and Payless Building Supply.