Bigfork Players kick off with hilarious melodrama

The Bigfork Community Players start their 30th year with “Airport 1904,” a two-act musical melodrama.

Widow Knight and her lovely daughter Lovey open the world's first flying school in January 1904 — a ridiculous concept remembering that the Wright Brothers’ flight at Kitty Hawk was in December 1903.

All does not go well. Two villains harass the Knights and plan to take over the school — and Lovey.

The good news: Hero Sterling Strongwrench arrives in the nick of time. The bad news: A mysterious woman is following Sterling.

Complications tail-spin and loop-the-loop many times before all is resolved in this hiss-the-villain, cheer-the-hero and heroine melodrama.

Longtime Bigfork Community Players member Sue Ostergard makes her directing debut in “Airport 1904.” Frank J. Kuntz, veteran musician and performer who co-produced the Lou Diamond Phillips movie “Dakota,” lends his talents as music director and on-stage pianist.

Cast members include Christel deWaard, Tonja King, Don McAdams, Joshua Ruebenson, Israel Bissell and Cindy Bissell.

Producers Mary Whitney and Mel Peterson are theater veterans who help guide the production to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. Anna Dwyer, a Bigfork Community Players member since its 1983 inception, designed the set.

Shows are Feb. 15-17 and 22-24. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

All performances are at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts on Electric Avenue.

Tickets are $16 for general admission, $6 for children under age 12, or $11 for Bigfork Community Players members and seniors. Tickets are available at the Kalispell Grand Hotel, Bigfork Drug and at the door on performance days.

Bigfork Community Players is an amateur theater company that produces plays during the fall, winter and spring seasons in Bigfork. Membership is open to everyone.

For more information, visit www.bigforkcommunityplayers.com or email bigforkcommunityplayers@gmail.com.