A PLACE WHERE COME TO LIFE Wonder and Whimsy

By Frankie Nadal

Welcome, to the Gaslight Melodramaa place where we cheer our heroes, boo our villains and “ooh and ahh” at our sweethearts.

Owned by Michael and Jennifer Prince, the Gaslight Melodrama was established in August of 2005.

It is the first “privately owned performing arts venue to be conceived, designed, financed, and constructed as a theatre in Bakersfield history.”

Additionally, it is only one of two melodrama theatres in California, the other being The

Great American Melodrama Theatre in Oceano.

Now, what makes a melodrama theatre so special?

At its core, a melodrama is a dramatic work of emotional art that focuses on values such as love, family, friendship and morality.

Often, the villain is an external figure acting as the antithesis of these values, though they are always soundly defeated. After all, the melodrama represents the idea of love over hate.

It also doesn’t hurt that melodramas are accompanied by musical scores designed to enhance the experience, something the Gaslight Melodrama does well.

Crashing thunder and reverberating bass reveals the villain while a triumphant and inspiring score uplifts our heroes.

Of course, we also cannot forget the evocative motif that seems to follow the beloved sweetheart of every show.

And who doesn’t love the joyously silly tracks that accompany the laughter and groans at every joke? Good and bad?

However, it is not just the enticingly exaggerated acting and melodious musical numbers that draw crowds. No, it is the involvement.

The audience is very much a part of the theatre, part of every play, and breaking the fourth wall is essential to the hijinks and hilarity that are bound to ensue.

Between audience reactions influencing actors’ lines, audience members featuring in surprise roles during plays, and the cast directly interacting with and responding to guests, there is hardly ever a lull or full stop.

Save for the intermissions, of course. In fact, both before the show and during intermissions, you can help yourself to the Moosehead lounge.

There, you can purchase hot dogs and sandwiches, drinks for kids and adults, popcorn and sweet treats, and so much more.

Also, if you’re feeling generous, the melodrama’s website encourages you to “toss the change in the tip jar, and our performers will regale you with a song.”

A little tip for track, so to speak.

With all the creativity and skill present at the Gaslight Melodrama, it is no wonder why they feature a rotating cast of actors.

Many grew up in Kern County and the surrounding area, their formative years brimming with song and dance, before finding a home at the melodrama; however, just as the curtain must fall after every play, many of the melodrama’s actors move on, pursuing their dreams thanks to the experience they amassed during their tenure.

The Gaslight Melodrama is open year-round, putting on shows Friday through Sunday for about seven weeks, taking one week in between each show for rehearsals and set design.

Additionally, the theatre is host to the Omnipresent Puppet Theater and Ron Saylor Presents: Celebrities of Magic.

The puppet theater puts a heartfelt spin on classics like the Little Mermaid and Puss in Boots, showing the magic of puppetry to countless families when they perform.

As for the magic shows, Ron Saylor invokes a different magician each month, wowing and pulling at the strings of the audience hearts.

All in all, the melodrama has something for everyone.

Whether you are looking for a fun family afternoon activity with the kids or an exciting and enticing night with the besties, the melodrama has got you covered.

It is truly a place of strikingly spectacular sights and splendidly superb sounds, rife with wonder and whimsy and whatever that third thing is.

One simply must visit the Gaslight Melodrama Theatre and Music Hall, located at 12748 Jomani Dr., Bakersfield, California.

Daisy Gomez is using her artistic gift to voice her passions.

When the art education major was 13, expressing herself was challenging. This directed her to try her hand at painting to express her feelings.

Not only did Gomez find art to be therapeutic and expressive, she also found that she was a natural.

Gomez’s art ignites emotions and makes you want to walk through the picture and into her world.

“It’s so easy for me to get an idea and imagine what it would look like in a painting,” said Gomez.

By incorporating colors, textures, and images, Gomez’s paintings illuminate the very essence of her emotions and passions. She is inspired by the world views of beauty, political controversies and current social topics.