OLE COKE COUNTY PAGEANT, 1980, Coke County, TX ***************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net 18 Nov 2000 ***************************************************************** San Angelo Standard-Times, Saturday, July 26, 1980 RABBIT TWISTERS A WARM SLICE OF AMERICAN PIE A Review by Shelley Gilbert, Staff Writer Robert Lee - The amateur cast members of this years's Coke County pageant seem right at home in their roles, and well they should. Many are descendants of the real-life characters whose lines they have rehearsed for weeks. Young and old residents of Robert Lee and Bronte, about 125 of them, again have come together to serve up a warm slice of American apple pie, the third annual musical production of "Ole Coke County, Home of the Rabbit Twisters," which premiered Friday night in Mountain Creek Amphitheatre here. The play, written and directed by longtime music and drama teacher Lucile Bryan, does good-natured justice to the colorful history of the county and its pioneers, from the days of Fort Chadbourne in 1854 to the arrival of the railroad and departure of liquor from the area some 50 years later. Performances will continue at 8:30 p.m. today, and on Aug. 1 and 2. The best part of "Ole Coke County" is that while you're enjoying yourself, you learn something - painlessly. Some of the characters are fictional, but the scenes might have happened. Then there're real figures like Fort Chadbourne owner Col. T. L. Odom, played with grandeur by his grandson, John C. Odom of Killeen, whose family still owns the fort. Don Masters of Bronte again plays the chipper Old Timer, narrating the unfolding events with the warmth and gusto. The characters and plot outline of "Ole Coke County" have retained their identities sonce the play's inception for the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial. But each year, those who have attended before will find some changes. This year, four scene scripts were reworked. "It's never the same, exactly," Mrs. Bryan says, "because people don't want to see the same play year after year." She based her scripts on a book by longtime Robert Lee resident Jessie N. Yarbrough, and her careful attention to historical detail is woven throughout the show. You discover how the state cattleman's association was founded, how the settlers combed cotton for quilting, that the town of Tennyson indeed was named after the literary figure. The audience will miss some of the finer touches, such as the real early-day McGuffy readers and the 19th century women's magazine, "The Household," used as props. Lyrics to original songs performed by the Brush Arbor Choir serve as background notes as cast members set up each scene. Perhaps that's where Mrs. Bryan's 30-plus years of experience directing amateur musicals show up best. The singing is right on key, and you can understand every jointly uttered word. The four-speaker sound system, purchased this year by the show's sponsor, the fledgling Coke County Pageant Association, Inc., is effective to the back row. The outdooor amphitheatre itself - built under the guidance of Mrs. Bryan's husband, Wilson Bryan, a retired sand, gravel and concrete plant owner - provides an ideal setting for the cowboys-and Indians pageantry. The fresh air and unobstructed view are wonderful, although wood plank seats can grow hard under a spectator. The "stage" extends at least 250 yards to a natural backdrop, Robert Lee's municipal dam. Bare-chested Comanche boys casually ride real horses bareback across the horizon, atop the dam, so far from the stage you think at first they are something apart from the play-acting, perhaps out scouting for water. When a quartet of "wire nippers" hook their thumbs in their belts and croon, "Don't Fence Me In," you feel the presence of the surrounding land. "Our one grief this year is that the mesquite tree has died," Mrs. Bryan laments. The scrawny tree in the center background of the stage, ailing but proud, holds a wooden sign proclaiming, "Fort Chadbourne." Intermission features more singing, jazz piano and announcements. Creature comforts, a restroom and a concession stand, are provided. Mrs. Bryan herself wrote many of the play's songs, with others penned by Don Fields, Bonita Copeland and recording artist Doak Sneak, a Bronte native. Fields also wrote one of this year's scenes. Permission granted by San Angelo Standard-Times for publication in the Coke County TXGenWeb Archives ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Observer/Enterprise, 1 Aug 1980, Robert Lee, TX Coke County Pageant Runs Tonight, Saturday "Those Rabbit Twisters really came to stay" - if you missed the "OLE COKE COUNTY" production last weekend - don't miss it tonight (Friday) and/or Saturday, August 2, 8:30 p.m. at the Mountain Creek Amphitheatre. The Brush Arbor Singers, starting at 8 p.m. takes one back to the "good ole gospel singin'" - you'll find yourself singing along with the choir. The Coke County Pageant Association, Inc. is proud to present this the Third Annual Production of "OLE COKE COUNTY - HOME of the Rabbit Twisters" to the memory of W. T. "Bill Matlock Jr. He was a loyal member of the cast and will be remembered as a member of the "Wire Nippers" Quartet. The association was pleased with the first weekend run of "Ole Coke County". About 600 persons attended the two performances, and according to the guest register was quite an impressive audience. The '64 Study Club is doing a superb job as the hostesses for the 1980 production. On Friday evening the 150 member cast performed to an audience attending from nine states (other than Texas). They were California, Arizonia, Colorado, Washington, D.C., Illinois, Georgia, New Mexico, Washington, and Montana. Five persons registered from Berlin, Germany, and the following Texas cities were represented: Houston, Lake Jackson, Crane, Eola, Gatesville, Comanche, Miles, Loraine (group of 24). Colorado City, Wingate, Roscoe, Fort Worth, Hondo, San Angelo, Killeen, Abilene, Dallas, Synder, Gladewater, Lubbock, Levelland, Weatherford, Tyler, Ballinger, Brady, Carlsbad, Odessa, and Mertzon. Saturday night's reading was just as impressive with representatives from the West Texas Chamber of Commerce; out-of-staters from New Mexico, California, Kentucky, Illinois and a young lady from Kendsback, Germany. Texas cities represented were San Antonio, Welch, Lamesa, Austin, Odessa, London, Junction, Sweetwater, San Angelo, Corpus Christi, Miles, Talpa, Bedford, Andres, Water Valley, Lubbock, Crockett, Rising Star, Ozona, Levelland, Ballinger, Sterling City, Buda, Fort Worth, Big Lake, Brownwood, Stanton, College Station, Austin, Midland, Harlingen, and Monte Alto. The Indian Fancy Dancers of the Concho Valley Order of the Arrow from San Angelo are as colorful as the beautiful rainbow that graced the sky over the natural backstage of the amphitheatre. The concession stand under the direction of the Theta Alph Chapter of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority of San Angelo serves a variety of good food, cold ddrinks, watermelo, desserts and nachos. Permission granted by Observer/Enterprise for publication in the Coke County TXGenWeb Archives