Let It Melo

Fiesta Melodrama combines farce and murder mystery

Fiesta season is upon us, and with it comes the annual Fiesta Melodrama, which has been presented at the Santa Fe Playhouse for give or take a century. Old photos in the Playhouse foyer dating back to 1919 offer a glimpse into the rich history of this time-honored event. Always written anonymously by a group of dedicated denizens, it's a part of the melodrama tradition to keep the scriptwriters' identities secret, as local places and figures are heavily lampooned. Legend has it, back in the '50s or '60s, there was an archbishop who actually had to step down over what came to light in the annual melodrama. While difficult to verify, it's wise to never let the truth get in the way of a good story. "Especially a melodrama," director Andrew Primm says.

Primm is a local rock star turned melodrama maniac. A Santa Fe native, he first participated in the production back in 2011, when he was cast as the hero by Eliot Fisher. Primm jumped in, skipping effortlessly from musician to actor and then on to director. He has directed the melodrama since 2013.

This year's installment, Intrigue at the Palace, or alternately named A Melodrama Marred (by Mysterious, Murderous Mayhem), or Five Villains for the Price of One, or A Presumptuous Poisoning Predictably Produces a Panic-Stricken Palace, or A Treasure Trove of Treasonous Tricksters Tumble into Treachery and Temptation, is a mash-up of murder mystery and farce. The plot depicts a lavish dinner held at the Palace of Governors to discuss Santa Fe's future. When local author-philanthropist and guest of honor Jorge Ere Ere Martínez is found murdered, loyal civil servant Wanda B Goode takes up the case.

It's a riot from the start. Jorge Ere Ere Martínez is played by octogenarian and 14-time production veteran Cliff Russell. "Being a relative newcomer, I particularly love this script…I've got more lines than I've ever had before," he says.

Wanda B Goode, played by Monique Candelaria, suspects everyone, from the cook to the mayor. "This is the first time I've ever been the good girl. I always end up playing the mistress," she says. This Goode girl has her work cut out for her: There ends up being five villains.

Yep, five. So drink plenty of water before the show, as you might become hoarse from booing and hissing. As in any melodrama, booing the villain(s) and cheering the hero is wildly encouraged, though the throwing of marshmallows, tomatoes and/or shoes isn't. "A banana peel may get thrown, but we haven't done the throwing thing for a while," Primm says. "Marshmallows are a mess. We did throw balled-up newspaper a few years back, which went okay, but it takes some pretty special actors to maintain focus through that kind of thing. You can throw your voice instead."

Stand-up comedian Felix Cordova plays Chadwick I M Dandy, owner of Dandy Burger in Española and the hero of the whole debacle. "Of course, the hero of Santa Fe has to be the richest guy in Española," he laughs. "This is my third year, and I've always been the villain, so it's nice to be the hero. I love melodramas. You get to play with the crowd; they give you crap, and you give it right back to them."

Other notable characters include Abbey Downtown, the Palace maid who only speaks English, played by Rose Provan; Biz Cochito, a cook who only speaks Spanish, played by Stephen Jules Rubin; and Gabby McChatterson, the mute interpretive dancer and bartender, played by Sarah Milner. "The script really takes the piss out of some classic Santa Fe characters, like the shady realtor, the hack artist and the nepotistic City Hall worker," she says.

And then there are the villains. Melodrama first-timers B J Stokey, James "Hammy" Griego and Yann Lussiez, respectively, play Carrie N Deeds (the shady realtor), Hiram PR Nepotisto (the mayor's cousin and personal photographer) and Art N Graftz (a flamboyant conceptual performer). Mario Ulibarri plays Habanero Gonselfies or, in his own words, "the hottest mayor since Christmas chile."

If you're keeping score, you might be wondering who the fifth villain is. This is a murder mystery, after all. Intrigue at the Palace kicks off this week and runs Thursdays through Sundays for three consecutive weekends (with the exception of Old Man Gloom's Friday). Opening night's gala includes an appearance by the Fiesta Court in which, according to tradition, Don Diego De Vargas' entire posse, the Fiesta Queen and a mariachi ensemble grace the scene to ignite dancing in the street.

"I'll argue this to anyone, whether they want to believe me or not: At the heart of so many things, there is a melodrama in the gears of whatever's going on," a diplomatic Primm says. "We celebrate Santa Fe, but we're also very cognizant there's been a lot of strife. The melodrama is based on some very real controversy. But if we can all get together and laugh with each other—and sometimes at each other—maybe that can provide some sort of healing for Santa Fe in the best way."

2015 Fiesta Melodrama
7:30 pm Thursdays, Aug. 27, Sept. 3 & 10.
7:30 pm Fridays, Aug. 28 and Sept. 11.
7:30 pm Saturdays, Aug. 29, Sept. 5 and 12.
10 pm Saturday, Sept. 5.
2 pm Sundays, Aug. 30, Sept. 6 and 13. $15-$20.
Santa Fe Playhouse,
142 E De Vargas St.,
988-4262

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