Summer is the off-season for professional theatre, and the summer theatre that is performed is very hit-and-miss, usually consisting of volunteer community productions, unless you happen to live in a giant theatre center like Los Angeles. So when I saw fantastic professional theatre in Western Montana featuring two talented profssionals from Spokane, I knew I had to spread the word! Theatre lovers, take a little road trip and treat yourself to some excellent productions. Philipsburg is only four and a half hours from Spokane, and it is a lovely drive to a truly historic and beautiful little town.

The Opera House Theatre Company (http://www.operahousetheatre.com/) is running three productions through September 6, two comedies and one vaudeville show. I saw all three last weekend, and they are all very good productions. Ginny Abdallah from Spokane, who was stage manager last season at Interplayers, is stage manager and lighting technician for all three, and Colleen Watson is the artistic director for the season.

Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her, by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore, is a hilarious farce about four people, two of them a married couple, who are involved in affairs. Good girl Jennifer (Jenn Hogan), is tired of her sex-crazed husband who makes her do all the heavy domestic work of the house, like changing oil on the cars and shoveling all the snow, but feels guilty about seeing Paul (Nathan Wright), who has been in love with her for years. Meanwhile, Jennifer's cheating husband, Danny (played by Damon Abdallah from Spokane who played in, among other things, the Interplayers production of Waiting for Godot last fall) is, ironically, furious with his sexpot girlfriend (Suzanne Fortin) because she has a date with another man. The four of them all share more than they realize, and this action-packed, smart, sexy comedy keeps you laughing from start to finish. Jennifer's parents add an additional element of fun as the old couple who have lost all the romance: Mary (Colleen Watson), is a sexually frustrated wife who is desparate to bring some passion back into her love life, while her ex-military slob husband (Tim Eastman), Bill, is much more interested in war movies than sex. Everyone will be brought together under one roof for some revalations, chases, inclduing a bear chase, fights, and of course a happy ending for all the lovers. This was my favorite play, and if you only have time for one, I recommend that you go see this one (unless you have kids with you--this is really a PG-13 play).

Butterscotch, by Barbara L. Smith, is billed as a comic drama. Lincoln (Damon Abdallah), A New York restuarant critic, visits his finace's small-town father, Emery (Tim Eastman) to introduce himself and try to talk the crotchety old hunter into coming to the wedding, which is next week. The scenes between these two characters are funny and touching as Lincoln tried to win over Emery, who hates New York and everything Lincoln stands for--or so he claims. This is a good story, and Eastman and Abdallah's interactions and characters' development are wonderful to watch. The other characters, while well-played, are not as believable, with a few awkward lines here and there. However, Suzanne Fortin plunges into her role as the neurotic, stereotypical, beautiful rich New Yorker with a vengance, throwing fits and strutting around in ridiculous outfits that are not suited to the small town she has taken a vacation home in. The accent should probably have been left out, but she is fun to watch as she captivates her "enemy," the young Bob (Nathan Wright) who is a member of the hunter's group that is trying to keep hunting open right outside her condo door. Colleen Watson plays the forgetful lady next door who is in love with the widower Emery.

What can I write about Vaudeville Variety Extravaganza, written by the ensemble? It is vaudeville, and it is good vaudeville. Accomplished singing, humorous skits, funny costumes . . . if you like vaudeville, you will love this show!