Theatre in Historic Places: THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS at El Molino Viejo

Theatre in Historic Places is a new series by Los Angeles Senior Editor Ellen Dostal featuring theatre, music, and other arts performances in historic venues around Southern California.

Over the weekend, I had an opportunity to enjoy an evening of theatre outdoors in one of the area's loveliest and most unique venues - El Molino Viejo, The Old Mill, in San Marino. I'd never been there before, but since I love historic buildings and grew up on Sunday afternoon westerns, I was immediately intrigued by an invitation to see THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS in the mill's garden courtyard.

Surrounded by pomegranate trees, the patio is a natural performance space and plays host to chamber music concerts and other public events during the summer months. This year, the mill reaches a milestone and celebrates its 200th anniversary on September 30. Hard to believe that the small 53 by 26 foot building would continue to live on long past its grist mill days to become the oldest commercial building in Southern California. Or maybe not, considering the walls of its lower level were made of volcanic tuff rock and oven-baked bricks five feet thick.

In its early days, the mill served the Mission San Gabriel, providing grain ground into flour for the padres at the mission, as well as the for the pueblo of Los Angeles. It was also used for fiestas in the early 1800s before the mission was secularized by the Mexican government some thirty-odd years later.

Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California, would eventually sell the land to William Workman and Hugo Reid in 1846 but, four years after the transaction, the U.S. Land Commission would contest that sale. During the process of sorting out the paperwork, James S. Waite, the editor of The Star, (Los Angeles' first newspaper), even managed to establish temporary "squatter's rights" on the property.

Today, The Old Mill is owned by the city of San Marino and managed by The Old Mill Foundation. You enter the building through the Grinding Room where large millstones ground corn and wheat. Two of those millstones are on display out front. The upper converted Granary Room has been the home of the California Art Club Gallery since 1999 and its lovely courtyard, maintained by the Diggers Garden Club, continues to attract those in search of a quiet place to relax. (You can tour The Old Mill and gardens Tues. - Sun., 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.)

Something magical happens when you watch a performance whose subject and surroundings are so beautifully compatible. Little Candle Productions' THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS only played for three performances but this western romance adapted by Bob Colleary from Zane Grey's novel was full of charm.

It is the story of an east coast society woman who heads west to take over her brother's ranch after his mysterious death. Once she arrives, it is clear no one expects her to stay, least of all the two men closest to the ranch: a drunken cowboy (Jon Snow) who runs the spread and a duplicitous sheriff (Travis Wayne) with a hidden agenda.

But a woman who would get on a train and cross the country alone in 1912 is no shrinking violet. Betsy Roth so easily takes on the period and demeanor of this early twentieth century frontier woman it is as if Zane Grey wrote the part for her, although most certainly Colleary adapted the role of Madeline Hammond with her in mind. A tall, willowy presence, she is strong and determined yet displays an unexpected fragility when the story takes a dangerous detour.

Paula Deming steps into the no-nonsense shoes of Flo Kingsley, who was in love with Hammond's brother and lived with him on the ranch. She's likable and not afraid to speak her mind but always does so with an insight that escapes the others. Snow spends a great deal of his time on stage in a drunken state (which lends itself to much repetition) but is more effective when he isn't intoxicated. In these moments, a hesitant vulnerability is revealed that is quite endearing.

A four-piece band (upright bass, fiddle, drums, and guitar) enhances the frontier atmosphere. Show is directed by Billy Gill.

Few things are as satisfying for me as combining my love of the arts with my curiosity for history and this was a wonderful blend of both. Were it to be performed again, especially at picturesque El Molino Viejo, it would warrant a return visit to enjoy an evening under the western sky.

For more about El Molino Viejo, visit www.old-mill.org.
For more about Little Candle Productions, visit www.littlecandleproductions.com.

The Light of Western Sky photos by Jo Winebrenner
El Molino Viejo photos by Ellen Dostal