I’ve been hoping and praying for the Eastern Theatre Program to get its students out into the community and surrounding areas, promoting the department and getting up close and personal with current and future patrons. With the production of Here’s Killing You Kid, the melodramatic performance allowed the Eastern Theatre Club just that.

Directed by senior Eastern Oregon University student Seth Yohnka, the show has been well received. Since its opening at the Hotel Condon, the cast have followed with the June 26th performance at Foley Station; another sold-out performance. This is the one I attended.

When I first entered into the performance area of the restaurant, I noticed that the area was small, confined but not uninviting. A simple bar was all they used and it was used well. The show centers around the bar in the show and does a great job of pulling the audiences attention to the central location. An enjoyable location but also a tricky one, as it lends itself to flat blocking. Very few characters ever leave the the area of the bar which is convenient but, visually, tends to bore the eye a bit.

Performance wise though, the cast does an excellent job of making the script work for them. I particularly enjoyed Jeff Press in the lead, an interesting delivery and diminutive height allows for him to be the picked on leader of the troupe who earns back his respect and makes us understand his role in the show as the lead.

This show was a win. For the win. All win. I have seen this show twice, one with an audience and one without, and I have to say that the club really pulled off an amazing show. I’m not a fan of melodrama but it’s a whole new game when David, Jeff, Taylor, Hannah, Leslie, and Angie take the stage. It’s like rolling in puppies, covered in Doritos, and layered in Jell-0. It was a lot of fun. Usually separated by the audience/actor fourth wall, now the actors have the joy and privilege to share the space with the audience they’ve played before for years.

And those Pesto Prawns….hoooooohhhooo.