What A Difference an Hour Makes.

The Residents of Muskrat Creek

Esther Field (Lindsey Walker) - elderly schoolmarm, who has taken a vow of silence
Chester Field (Peter Brown) - her other son, misses the old Muskrat Creek
Billy Minor (Ellie Heath) - his bartender with a heart of gold
Alma Grass (Caley Suliak) - Abandoned maid, cleans the whole town
Lady Lou Quigley (Stephanie Wolfe)- Owner of Lady Lou’s Saloon
Myrtle Wordle (Kristi Hanson) - Wealthy Entrepreneur
Justice Forrell (Randy Brososky) - Bounty Hunter
Calliope Jenkins (Kirsten Throndson) - nurse, Jill-of-all-trades
Dr Thaddeus Buckley (Joel Taras) - A Doctor with a shady past
Vlad Impala (Breck Wiltshire) - Transylvanian immigrant with a sun allergy
Claude Hopper (Chris Bullough) - Half of the vaudeville team “Claude and Dill”
Dill Pickwell (Jason Hardwick) - Half of the vaudeville team “Claude and Dill”
Mr. Silver (Cody Porter) - A stranger in a cape

The Dead, Missing, or Disappeared Residents of Muskrat Creek.

Sylvester Field (Jason Hardwick) - The town undertaker
Cyrus Lane (Jesse Gervais) - broken hearted widower
Lester Field (Randy Brososky) - Proprietor of Fields, the general store
Cyrus Lane (Jesse Gervais) - Broken hearted widower
Holden Strong (Joel Taras) - Hard working miner
Major Goldie Bullion (Cody Porter) - The Baron, coal miner, owner of Crooked Fang Saloon
Rev. Jebediah (Chris Bullough) - A Reverend.
Annabelle (Kelly Turner) - runaway acolyte

Director: Jake Tkaczyk
Music: Paul Morgan-Donald
Producer: Nicole Thibault
Synopsis: Jim Cej
Technical Magic: Olivia Bogaard

Act I

Lady Lou is being cared for by Calliope, Alma, and Honey Karat. All the people that she loved are dead. Honey Karat takes offence with that comment. Maybe she can make some use of being the mayor. Maybe she can have all the men in town compete for her affections with a pageant. Honey Karat wonders how she feels about a relationship between two people of the same… background. She is fine with that. She could mayorry them. Calliope wonders if if her husband being dead is the same as being divorced. Alma will stand up for her if she will do the same again, as long as Myrtle gets off the lotion.

Esther needs 10,000 balloons, all black. Fun! Chester will make sure it happens. Esther has hated him for so long, but she will hate him a little less while he is working for her. He can tell the world that she is finally nicer! After she gets elected as mayor, she’ll hate him even more less. Maybe it’s because she had an hour less sleep. Then he’ll make sure she gets up an hour early ever day. She needs Chester to murder about 100 people for her.

Claude approaches Justice Forrell. He owes Claude. He saw what he did. Are you sure, or did you see just the aftermath? No, I saw you you murder Annabelle. Being a bounty hunter, sometimes you have to do bad things. He hade a bounty for her, so he did what he had to do. Claude’s not the one that wakes up at night in a cold sweat. He saw the worst moment of Justice’s life. Because he does what he does, Chester doesn’t have to. Chester asks if he still loves Dill. He’s the only man Justice has ever loved. He makes him complete.

Myrtle has money for more doses of lotion. Dr Buckley asks how much money she has. Her hands are so dry! He gives her some lotion, and now she has to do something for him. Alma watches. There’s a judge poking around asking about his medical licence. He needs to be handled with very soft hands.

Claude bursts in Judge Fricassee’s office. Well, hotel room. He has something to report to him. There’s been a murder in this town, but there’s no way to prove it. But it happened! Are you reporting hearsay, gossip, or something he witnessed. He’s reporting… HOMOSEXUALITY!

Lady Lou bursts in on Esther. She needs some mayoral advice. Esther ruled with an iron fist, but Lady Lou isn’t like that. Lady Lou needs to find that part of her heart that hates little things. Let it grow and fester. Better yet, Lady Lou can use Esther’s festering heart. Maybe they can be co-mayors. They share the sash. They complete each other. They go to tall the town.

Honey Karat and Calliope discuss marriage. With Calliope’s newfound power, she feels that they could be a power duo. Honey Karat has concerns about her being a brothel inspector. Honey has tried to be a good person like Calliope. She would hate to change her. Calliope wants to get married, like she was before. Yes, but you smothered your husband.

Myrtle shows Dr Buckley her grip. He’s pleased with where that took him. He notices Alma lurking and asks what she is doing there. Alma takes his lotion supply. He attacks her with a decanter.

HOMOSEXUALITY?!? That’s just crazy talk. An d you witnessed it? Well, it was in the air. It was palpable, filling the room with a blue fog. The judge needs the sordid details, but Justice enters before he can speak. Claude is overcome with the vapours. BLUE vapours! Justice would hate for a man of the law not to be who he appears to be. The judge considers what he said.

2 ladies, one sash. Chester wonders what is happening. They decided that should both be the mayor. He loves it! How are they going to divide duties. One will be the good cop and the other the bad cop. What should he call them? Lou…cifer. Lucifer for Mayor sounds like a great slogan! What is the highest priority. They will make legal, or is it illegal? Are they having their first fight? They decide that they will have a vote.

Honey and Calliope share a quiet moment in the woods. There is something Honey has to tell Calliope. You know I love you, but I don’t feel so well. She hasn’t told anyone this before. She never thought that she would find someone like her. I’m sick, I’m really sick. I think they call it consumption. With her nursing background, Calliope suggest going too the seaside. The judge and Justice stumble onto them. MORE?!? Calliope asks Justice what is going on. He tells her that he has gotten himself in some trouble. The judge doesn’t approve of homosexual relationships. What should he do? The judge discloses his identity to Honey Karat and asks for his help/ He raided her brothel. There are strange things happening in town. Things are happening that aren’t the normal way. As the sheriff, Calliope tell Justice that he must leave town. Everyone is in the woods, and Claude tells everyone that they should vote for him has mayor. He will do away with these unnatural relationships. Calliope feels betrayed, and orders Justice to leave. Honey Karat coughs up blood and flees.

Act II

Dr Buckley swings the decanter, but Mr Silver stops him. He asks what’s going on. Myrtle almost let Dr Buckley hurt Alma. While Mr Silver asks how long be could people alive without any food or water, Myrtle and Alma steal the gun from Dr Buckley’s medical bag. They both pull guns on Dr Buckley. Mr Silver pulls out a bar of gold. Where did you get that?

The co-mayors argue about same sex relationships. Esther has seen so many people in love, but they have all ended poorly. Lady Lou counters that SHE IS CANADIAN! Elbows up! Esther suggest that they outlaw all forms of love forever. They shake on it.

Calliope chases after Honey Karat, while Justice runs out of town. Chester stops Calliope, but she says that it’s not a good time. Honey Karat runs into Justice. He know how Calliope feels for her. She needs Honey Karat. Justice knew someone by the name of Silver that had consumption but he ran off too the mountains. They should find him. They go up the mountain.

Claude blacked out completely, but the judge revived him. He asks Claude who the culprits were. Is that really important? Calliope bursts in, she has questions and she needs some straight answers on some legal issues. She needs to know the marriage laws. The judge reads from the legal books. Lady Lou passes by, talking about amending the law. Calliope can see that he is making this all up. As mayor, Claude… But you’re not the mayor yet. But Calliope has some power. She’s the sheriff!. She show them that she is well versed in legal matters.

Mr Silver’s infectious laugh infects Myrtle, Alma, and Dr Buckley. Alma fends off Mr Silver with a candlestick. She keeps him at bay, and they chase after him. A shot rings out.

Mr Silver crosses paths with Justice and Honey Karat on their way up the mountain. There is one cure for consumption. He has a small amount of the nectar of the blue cactus. As he is about to give it to her. The posse runs in and chases him off. He was going to save Honey Karat’s life. Justice says that they can have him after he cures her. Alma resists. He’s doing it for Calliope. Dr Buckley is willing to help her, but for a price. Justice pulls a gun on Alma. She knocks it away, but she is still shot.

Calliope continues her shows off her legal matters. Sergeant Benson reveals himself. He arrests both Claude and Calliope frothier unnatural relationships. The co-mayors enter and save the day with a new law. Burnaby is having trouble keeping up with all these laws! Claude and Calliope escape

Claude and Calliope run into Chester Field. There’s a two-headed mayor! They were under arrest. For killing Chester’s brother. No, for homosexual relationships. Not with each other. Chester wonders what is wrong with that. Claude and Calliope run off, pursued by the co-mayors. He asks what the deal is. They were going to be their argument for and against gay relationships. Since they are co-mayors, Esther suggests that they be co-moms. He’s all for it. Lady Lou has shown him more love already than Esther ever has. Claude and Calliope attack the co-mayor with candelabras.

Alma lies wounded. Justice tells Dr Buckley to look after her. Alma resists. Justice, do what you will. She has known love. Just don’t give Myrtle any lotion. Myrtle pulls her gun and insists that he help Alma.

The co-mayors say ow! Chester stops them. No one hurts his two moms. He explains that there is a good mom, and mom. Esther apologises. Maybe Lady Lou is a good influence. Chester suggest they have an actual election. Chester, Lady Lou, and Esther give their platforms. Esther will give them all whatever they want. Not Lady Lou. That’s not good for them. Everyone votes, and Lady Lou is declared mayor! She will trust everyone to help them help her. Esther pulls out a gun. Claude grabs it. They aim at Lady Lou together and fire!

All Photos by Janna Hove