CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT From left to right, Phil Raneri, Elisa "Lee Lee" Arias, and Jeff Alan Stacey performing in the Pahrump Arts Council production of "The Spitfire Grill" at the Pahrump Valley High School auditorium Friday, June 13. CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVT Elisa "Lee Lee" Arias playing Perchance Talbott in the Pahrump Arts Council's production of "The Spitfire Grill" at the opening night performance. Advertisement

From the opening bars of "A Ring Around the Moon," the poignant song punctuated by a jaunty chorus that kicks off James Valq' s "The Spitfire Grill," the sold-out audience at the Pahrump Valley High School auditorium Friday night seemed to know it was in for something special.

And the Pahrump Arts Council production of the musical, interspersed with no less than 23 musical numbers, did not disappoint. The standing ovation received by the cast, made up of both PAC theater veterans and a few new faces, was duly earned with the troupe's obvious enthusiasm and musical talent.

Yet for all of that, one of the most integral and powerful characters, played by Dan Wertsbaugh, offers a silent role. But the lack of lines makes Wertsbaugh's performance all the more impressive because the audience still knows exactly what his character is thinking and feeling when he does appear.

Elisa "Lee Lee" Arias introduces the main character, Perchance Talbott (whom the audience comes to know simply as Percy), not only through her strong and versatile singing but also with acting ability to match.

The audience is thrown into the story from the moment the spotlight shines on the striking opening set, showing Percy behind bars. Her release from prison into a small Wisconsin town is reflected not only musically but also with the help of effective lighting conveying everything from dusk to early morning light.

And thanks to an economical but highly effective set, it doesn't take long to feel as though you're a resident of Gilead, too.

The Spitfire Grill, and a glimpse of the woods outside the front door to stage right, is all a cozy set that allows all the town's colorful characters to grow and change despite the static setting.

In short, the production and set crew deserve as much credit as the actors for making opening night a success.

Once Percy is grudgingly hired by Hannah Ferguson, the crotchety, feisty and shrewd owner of the grill, it doesn't take long for the entire small town of Gilead to realize -- and musically gossip about -- "something cooking at the Spitfire Grill."

Ferguson is played by Debra Garland, a powerful presence on the stage who is a master of tone and has a great sense of timing that gives the snappier lines of the script (most of them delivered by her character) the punch needed to keep an often sentimental play's tempo up.

When Ferguson breaks her hip, it's up to Percy to run the grill. But a complete lack of cooking skills and an initially abrasive attitude toward the customers soon bring Shelby Thorpe (played by Tamara Lee Jones) into the working world.

Jones, a PAC veteran who recently starred in "Nunsense" and a Pahrump Idol finalist, once again proves to be a Pahrump gem through both her singing and acting. Together with Arias, they elevate several of the play's song from merely explanatory music to pure entertainment.

Percy and Shelby form a seemingly unlikely friendship and soon cook up a scheme to get the Spitfire Grill sold.

After all, it's been on the market for 10 years already when the play begins.

It isn't long before the whole town begins to find itself and its attitude changing dramatically.

"The Spitfire Grill" is character-driven and largely based on the internal changes the characters go through, despite their archetypical natures.

Linda Nosik, playing the town gossip Effy Krayneck, portrays her part so perfectly anyone who's ever lived in a small town will think they knew someone just like her.

Jeff Alan Stacy successfully conveys the internal changes his character, the town sheriff goes through, without being overdramatic or overwrought in the transition.

Shelby's husband Caleb Thorpe (played by Phil Raneri) is the character most resistant to change, and Raneri's acting skill never lets the audience forget it.

Director Francine Winters and Musical Director Linna Barnum have both been involved in theater and music all their lives, and this production of "The Spitfire Grill" ably shows their experience and love for their respective crafts.

For those of you who missed this past weekend's performances, you'll be happy to know there will be two more shows Friday, June 20.

In addition to the Saturday, June 21, show at 7 p.m., there will also be a matinee show at 2 p.m.

General admission is $10 and PAC members and students can purchase tickets for $7.

Tickets are sold at Ace Hardware, the Chamber of Commerce office, and at the door.