SPRINGFIELD – “You have died of dysentery.”
Do you remember the classic video game, “The Oregon Trail?” The game was popularized in the 1980s and became a staple in elementary school computer labs throughout the 1990s.
The educational game of strategy, in all its pixelated bliss, taught players about the challenges of westward expansion in 1848, putting them to the test on the back of a wagon on the Oregon Trail.
If you are like me, you died of dysentery many, many times in the game. And sad to say, in all the times I played, I never reached the end of the Oregon Trail.
Audiences can now watch the game unfold as an interactive play in “The Trail to Oregon,” on stage now through June at Pegasus Playhouse at 402 Main St. The production features semi-educational songs, real landmarks, and accurate historical facts about Oregon.
Audiences are going to love the humor, catchy tunes, and the interactive elements. No two showings of the play will be the same.
Elena Morris, a 21-year-old actress playing “Mother,” is no stranger to the PP stage. It is easy to see why she was selected for this role with her strong voice and acting skills.
“I’m really excited … for the audience participation aspect of the show, having people name the characters and make plot decisions,” Morris said.
Actor Colin Schmidt stumbled upon PP, seeking to try something different in his life this year, which he achieved through acting in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and now this play.
“Team Starkid, the company that did this show originally, is such a funny and talented group of people, and being able to take it and make it our own has been so fun – to not only witness, but be a part of,” he said.
The original play was written by Jeff Blim, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang through StarKid, a small theater at the University of Michigan. This group of friends got their beginnings with a Harry Potter parody, “A Very Potter Musical.”
Schmidt has the challenge of switching between multiple roles as part of the play, which makes it a fun piece to watch. The actor got to show off his voice in the song, “Wagon on Fire.”
“The music, the comedy, and the story of a family just trying to get to their destination are all ingredients to this chaos pie and have me excited for the show,” Schmidt said.
Because the audience gets to decide who dies, and we know it will happen somewhere in the play, it creates tension in an otherwise fun and silly play, which keeps the audience in suspense.
Attendee Michele Scaduto of Springfield said her favorite part was Grandpa. “I thought he had a great voice. And I loved the death scene. I haven’t seen this play before. It reminds me of the campy horror of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’”
Spoon Meiners’ portrayal of Grandpa and Cletus Jones was hilarious, and every dance number he performed was spot-on. Each actor had a moment to shine in their solo song, Levi Stewart capturing the whimsy of being a 7-year-old making very normal, but stupid choices that affect his family’s trip.
Mila Dahl’s voice was angelic in her solo. Christopher Ridgely was the perfect choice for father in his vocal range and comedic expressiveness in songs like “Dysentery World.”
There is cursing in the play, and of course, there is no telling what kind of inappropriateness the audience might select.
‘The Trail to Oregon” on stage at Pegasus Playhouse, 402 Main St., Springfield at 7 p.m. on Fridays and 6 p.m. on Saturdays through June.
More info and tickets: pegasusplayhouse.com
Sarina Dorie is the arts writer for The Chronicle.
