Backstage heating sought for River City Playhouse in Ilwaco

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Chilly actors putting on their community theater costumes in the River City Playhouse have complained about the lack of heat for years.

The playhouse is home base for the Peninsula Players, whose actors normally perform three or four events there each year. Now River City Playhouse hopes to solve the problem. The theater is hosting a benefit concert at 2 p.m. Sunday to raise money for a new ductless heating system in the green room.

The fundraising event will be held at the playhouse, located on 127 Lake St. S.E. in Ilwaco.

The show will feature the Oyster Crackers, a group of local musicians, including Rita Smith, Bette Lu Krause, Christl Mack and Phyllis Taylor. They sing and play multiple instruments, including guitars, cello and mandolin. Proceeds will benefit the theater troupe and the musical group.

Smith is also a board member for the theater group, and said the theater has had a heating system installed in the auditorium so people coming to see a show are comfortable. However, backstage is a different matter.

“The only heat in the green room is two small electric heaters, not very efficient and very expensive,” said Smith, who directs many of the theatrical shows and often acts in them.

She indicated that the troupe is hoping to attract donations to help pay for the heating improvements, while seeking grants from area foundations.

Robert Scherrer also serves on the board, and has performed at the theater in roles ranging from Charlie Brown in the “Peanuts” comedy cartoon to a singing Royal Navy officer in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “HMS Pinafore.”

“Warming up before a show generally means going over lines or doing vocal warm-ups — not doing calisthenics to keep from having limbs drop off!” he joked.

The Peninsula Players were rehearsing a musical called “A Bag Full of Miracles” in March 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions kicked in. Leaders canceled the show, and called off all other planned activities in the future until the health safety picture became a little brighter.

The musical is tentatively set to return to the stage in spring 2022. To whet audience members’ appetites for live theater, Smith and Scherrer will perform a short comedy by Laurie Allen as part of the Sunday afternoon fundraiser.

The Oyster Crackers

Sunday at 2 p.m.

River City Playhouse, 127 Lake St. S.E., Ilwaco

$10 at the door; reservations needed, call or text Rita Smith at 360-244-3517.

Masks required; proof of COVID-19 vaccination; audience limited to 50 to allow distancing.