The Dell'Arte Company of Blue Lake, Calif., has put out my favorite press release of the year for the new play in its "Korbel" series -- part of their "ongoing exploration of the relationship of theatre and place." Those who have read the Dell'Arte case study in our book "Performing Communities" by CAN co-founders Bob Leonard and Ann Kilkelly (New Village Press) will remember that Korbel is one of Blue Lake's neighboring towns and its real life stories have become the (wildly exaggerated) stuff of Dell'Arte's "Korbel" musical play series. Here, in its entirety, is the press release for "Korbel IV: The Accident" (June 26-July 6, 2008).

When we last left the little town of Korbel, Dorothy Dugan, the matriarch of the Dugan family, had once again awoke from the dead to save her two sons and the town from ruin. She also miraculously solved the infertility problem plaguing the town by causing the women of Korbel to all, suddenly, give birth. Even her transvestite, lesbian, war veteran son Terry has a baby in what was surely the event of the decade.

Now... 10 years later, Korbel has once again fallen on hard times. The economy has tanked. Every other house in Korbel has become a grow house, as medical marijuana has become the only industry available to desperate Korbelians. And there is a growing divide between the old timers and new arrivals in town (some with Canadian accents). The only business left with any real jobs is St. Mo's hospital. This FOR PROFIT hospital was built on the site of the old Aiy-yu Kwee trailer park at the nearby Blue Lake Casino. Aiy -yu- kwee (which means "welcome") has certainly become a welcome destination for those who seek to gamble and have a heart bypass in a special weekend package. And St. Mo's is where Tommy Dugan, still unskilled and missing several body parts due to a lifetime of logging accidents, toils as a janitor hoping his luck will change.

Then a catastrophe occurs. There is a massive traffic accident in Korbel. Involved are Terry Dugan - now in constant physical pain due to complications from labor; Bob Barkley - the biggest developer in the region who has secret plans for the Korbel riverfront; Mystic Jones - the owner of the Korbel grow house and cold mud bath; Bud Gotchaback - a fomer bar owner and now outspoken political activist for the homeless; and Terri Dore a mentally unstable matron of the town who has a propensity to throw fruit cocktail at authority figures. The collision is caused by an out-of-control taco truck filled with machine guns and used silencers that mysteriously left the scene under a sheriff’s escort. The victims end up in the ER of St. Mo's where everyone is an entertainer. More tragedy ensues as the electricity goes out in the emergency room due to an over-taxed power grid and there is only enough power to keep one person on life support ... and keep the casino slot machines going.

Who will survive? Will Dorothy return to save her son? Can Terry ever forgive his mother for ending her life by sticking her head in a microwave? Can Tommy forgive the town of Korbel for ruining his life and his body? Can Dorothy forgive her sons for making a laughingstock of the Dugan name?

Find out as Humboldt's longest running soap opera continues in Korbel IV.

The Dell'Arte Company returns with original ensemble members Joan Schirle, Donald Forrest, and Michael Fields reprising their original roles as the Dugan Family. In addition, this new musical features renowned local singers Joyce Hough, Lila Nelson and Jayse Lecour who play all of the hospital staff along with the Dell'Arte house band under the direction of Tim Gray. The KORBEL series is part of the Dell'Arte Company's ongoing exploration of the relationship of theatre and place.
Directed by Michael Fields

Runtime: Approx. 2 hours with intermission

This is an outdoor show, please dress accordingly.

"Korbel IV" was partially funded and developed through the Fetzer Institute's Campaign for Love & Forgiveness.

Support for "Korbel IV" also comes from local businesses Pierson Building Supplies and Bayside Garden Supply.

"Korbel IV"

   

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