Popular show returns to Sixth Street

WALLACE – One of Sixth Street Theater’s most popular productions is back on stage for the company’s 42nd season – just in time for a milestone celebration. 

“Huckleberry Havoc, or, The Villain is in a Jam” is a fan favorite at Sixth Street, and with the 40th Annual Wallace Huckleberry Festival fast approaching, theater president Paul Roberts saw the perfect opportunity to bring it back. 

“People love this show,” Roberts said. “Each time we have it, we hear people tell us how disappointed they were to miss it.” 

Set in the early days of Wallace, the production is a comedic throwback that promises to leave audiences in stitches. Drawing from a variety of inspirations – most notably Dudley Do-Right – the story delivers a fresh, original spin on classic melodrama. 

Directed by Roberts, the show follows Ms. Sarah Sweet, a kind-hearted young woman trying to stay afloat after the not-so-mysterious death of her father. As local ranger Stanley Steadfast investigates the case – while quietly nursing feelings for Sarah – the town scoundrel, Malcot Malicious, launches a wicked scheme involving Sarah and her family’s legendary pie recipe. What follows is a whirlwind of hijinks and hilarity. 

The cast features Tina Fletcher as Sarah Sweet, Lucille Derbyshire as Malcot Malicious, Dacey Hayman as Lucrecia Luscious, and both Mark Owsley and Finley Meyers alternating as Stanley Steadfast. Notably, both Hayman and Fletcher return from a previous run of the show – this time in swapped roles. 

While Huckleberry Havoc is the main event, audiences won’t want to miss the opening act: Kelly’s Alley Revue presents “The Good Old, Bad Old Days,” a musical and theatrical journey through Wallace’s first decade. Starring Roberts and his wife, Carol, the revue recounts the town’s founding and tales like that of Pinkerton spy Charlie Siringo, with skits and songs performed by the full six-member cast. Carl Rowe provides live accompaniment for both the revue and the main show. 

Roberts said the idea of staging a performance during the Huckleberry Festival had been floated for years. With this year marking the festival’s 40th anniversary – and Huckleberry Havoc as the featured show – he decided it was time to give it a try. But this version will come with a twist. 

“We are doing something a little different this year,” Roberts said. “We are going to be showing Huckleberry Havoc during the upcoming Huckleberry Festival using just local high schoolers. Kind of following in the Knott’s Berry Farm or Silverwood model, where you can come to an event and stop in for a good old-timey show.” 

The plan is to run the play portion three times daily on both Saturday and Sunday of the festival, with each performance running about 30 minutes. 

“It’s a little experiment to see what we can do,” Roberts said. “We’re excited to see the results.” 

The 40th Annual Wallace Huckleberry Festival runs August 15–17. 

Huckleberry Havoc, or, The Villain’s in a Jam opens this weekend and runs through August 10, with performances at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. 

Tickets are available at www.sixthstreetmelodrama.com. 

    Sarah Sweet (Tina Fletcher) passes a smitten glance at Stanley Steadfast (Mark Owsley) during a recent showing of "Huckleberry Havoc, or, The Villain is in a Jam" at the Sixth Street Theater.