Charlie Melvin, Iola’s Mad Bomber of 1905 tavern-wrecking fame, is making a come- back.
Having hopped on a time machine before he died, Melvin fast-forwarded to present day Iola and plans to take another explosive whack at buildings in downtown Iola Saturday morning.
To stop Melvin before he can do damage, three contemporary kids found the time machine and summoned help from noted Iolans of yesteryear, Gen. Fred Funston, Iola Colborn and Tom Bowlus, as well as Piqua’s Buster Keaton, Moran’s Debbie Barnes and Dorothy and Toto.
Or, at least that’s the plot of “Iola Avengers,” a 30-minute farce middle schoolers enrolled in this year’s Children Summer Theatre Workshop will stage Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. at Iola Community Theatre’s Warehouse Theatre, 203 S. Jefferson Ave.
Whether the time-traveling avengers will be successful in thwarting a repeat of Melvin’s dastardly deed won’t be revealed until the play unfolds.
“We’re expecting a standing-room crowd,” said Susan Raines, who has directed all but a couple of CSTW’s 17 annual two-week sessions.
“Iola Avengers” and a play performed by elementary school students, “Disco Ponies,” will be performed, as well as 30 minutes of improvisational performances.
Two former summer workshop participants, Maggie Wilson and Jasmine Bannister, wrote the two plays and have done most of the directing, Raines said. Wilson is a student at Emporia State University, Bannister at Kansas State University.
“They’ve done a terrific job, both in their writing and in preparing the kids to perform,” said Raines.
Bryan Miller, Michael Wilson, Jordan Strickler and Drew Smith, Iola High students, also helped out with the workshop.
RAINES IS pleased with this year’s response, with 13 elementary students and 15 from middle school.
Activities mainly have been at the Warehouse Theatre, such things as acting experiences, theater games and introduction to the silence of mime.
“We also spent time at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, where tech director Jeff Jordan gave the kids an hour-long explanation of what he does and how he does it,” Raines said. “They even got to go up on the catwalk,” above the main Bowlus stage.
Part of Tuesday was devoted to face makeup, including creations KISS rockers would have envied.
“We also decorated masks,” Raines said, renditions mounted on sticks so they could be held in front of a kid’s face.
