DAYTON – On a dark and stormy night, Purity Dean, a working girl with a secret, seeks shelter form the storm in a Vermont Inn. So begins the very first melodrama to grace the Liberty Theater stage. Pure as the Driven Snow: A Working Girl's Secret, debuts Fri., May 12 and will run through Sun., May 14.

Co-directors Bret and Bethany Moser are convinced the audience will roar with laughter as they not only watch – but participate in – the lively, over-the-top production.

The Mosers are Liberty Theater stage veterans and members of the Touchet Valley Arts Council production board. Bret said they pushed the board to add a live spring production to the schedule that currently boasts a large fall musical and a smaller winter production. They were given the go-ahead if they were willing to direct.

"The Liberty has never done a melodrama before. We wanted something that allowed for wonderful costuming, a small cast, and was really fun and would appeal to the actors. We wanted to give actors who have done smaller roles in big productions the opportunity to be challenged by a bigger role," Bret said.

"In musicals there is lots of music and dancing to keep the production going. This is more of a challenge acting-wise because there is more dialogue and the actors must learn to use the lines, their emotions, and body language to communicate, versus relying on the music," Bethany said.

But just because there's lots of dialogue doesn't mean there won't be plenty of fun.

In a melodrama, an exaggerated and emotional plot takes precedence over the characters, which are simply drawn and often stereotyped. In the case of Pure As The Driven Snow, the audience becomes part of the production as they are encouraged to chime in with boos, cheers, and swoons.

"It's your classic historical 1890s melodrama and has been a tremendous amount of fun, with lots of over-the-top humor," Bret said.

Bethany said they chose the play largely because of its family-friendly setting in an inn in Vermont, as opposed to many that are set in saloons.

"The story line is that of the classic downtrodden heroine, saved by the hero, and fighting against the villain. There are lots of fun elements like a gunfight, a time bomb, the villain dressed up like a woman – a lot of classic elements – while remaining family friendly," Bethany said.

Bethany said pianist Jim Thorn was tasked with choosing his own music and has littered the production with humorous musical references. He has also created signature music used with each of the characters as they enter the stage.

"They have had a lot of fun with costuming. Mary Luce has been working hard to put the women into amazing, gorgeous dresses from the 1890s," Bret said.

The cast of 13 includes 10 women and three men. Tony Sykes plays the hero, Leander, and Meghan Bromily, new to the Liberty stage, plays Purity, the lead. Waitsburg actors include Dr. Kyle Terry, David Moser, and another Liberty first-timer, Mary Hansen.

Michael Luce

Mary Hanson portrays Nellie Morris in her first time on the Liberty Theater stage.

"It will be a lot of fun. We are excited and thrilled with the people we chose. We have actors from Walla Walla, Waitsburg, and Dayon. It's a really good group of people," Bethany said.

The three-act play, by Paul Loomis, debuts at 7 p.m. on Fri., May 12, with 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. showings on Sat., May 13 and a final 3 p.m. matinee on Sun., May 14. Tickets are priced between $8 and $15, and are available online now at http://www.libertytheater.org or they can be purchased at the box office during regular show times. For more information email Kirsten@libertytheater.org or call (509) 382-1380.