Dreadful Doings At The Cider Mill
by Don A Mueller

Dreadful Doings At The Cider Mill Book Cover — Dreadful Doings At The Cider Mill Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

90 mins Wild West Local Celebrity Cameo Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes

Synopsis

The women of Sorghum City threaten to withhold Ovaltine from the men until they are elected to the town council.

They call it Ovaltine to protect the innocence of little Imogene.

Even though they make it to the council, they are forced into passing the Great Cider Ban, which will put Lily Ann Drivensnow's cider mill out of business!

And who holds the mortgage on the mill?

Silas Slither, of course, who is planning to send Lily Ann to a cidery grave under her own Apple Crusher!

Will Ned Nobleheart be able to save her?

It's doubtful - he can't tell a safety lever from a pump handle!

Will Silas catch Georgie and Clem plotting and hiding under Goldie Gottalot's skirts?

And what will happen to our heroine, Lucy Sweet?

In between the campaigns, threats and flirtations are nine great songs, all easily within singing range.

Even the staging is clever, with a machine lever that looks like a drain plunger held in place by a hand from offstage!

Press Reviews

"A highly singable score with wonderful lines. We scheduled extra performances, thanks to word of mouth publicity!"
— Mark Clark, Director, Baldwin Community Theatre (KS)

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Lily Ann Drivensnow Has a grown child somewhere. Has a lot of trouble with pronouns and prepositions. Has several solos and a duet with Lucy.	—	—	Has a grown child somewhere. Has a lot of trouble with pronouns and prepositions. Has several solos and a duet with Lucy.
Clem Has a wonderful sense of humor, and could possibly be Lily Ann's grown son. He sings.	male	—	Has a wonderful sense of humor, and could possibly be Lily Ann's grown son. He sings.
Ned Nobleheart Very virtuous, sings sweetly, and speeks well, except for those spoonerisms.	—	—	Very virtuous, sings sweetly, and speeks well, except for those spoonerisms.
Silas Slither A great villain, as villains go. He leers and sneers at his victims and describes himself in song as a "Gay Deceiver."	male	—	A great villain, as villains go. He leers and sneers at his victims and describes himself in song as a "Gay Deceiver."
Goldie Gottalot A larger-than-life character. Shrugs off references to her amplitude because she always gets what she wants.	female	—	A larger-than-life character. Shrugs off references to her amplitude because she always gets what she wants.
Amy Believed to be only thirty-two. On the side of Lucy and civic improvement.	—	—	Believed to be only thirty-two. On the side of Lucy and civic improvement.
Imogene Supposedly only twelve years old, and takes very grown-up interest in Clem, and Silas Slither.	—	—	Supposedly only twelve years old, and takes very grown-up interest in Clem, and Silas Slither.
Georgie Youngster of the cast, a loyal friend to Ned. He does not have to sing.	male	—	Youngster of the cast, a loyal friend to Ned. He does not have to sing.
Mayor Dudley Typical popmpous small-town mayor. Also president of the bank and willing to use that position as he seeks reelection, with Lucy as his opponent. Does not need to be a singer.	male	—	Typical popmpous small-town mayor. Also president of the bank and willing to use that position as he seeks reelection, with Lucy as his opponent. Does not need to be a singer.
The Stranger Comes from nowhere, silently surveying the strange proceedings in Sorghum City.	—	—	Comes from nowhere, silently surveying the strange proceedings in Sorghum City.
Sweet Lucy Sweet Sweet and canny, and has set her sights on a new, improved Sorghum City, and an improved marital status. Sings beautifully.	female	—	Sweet and canny, and has set her sights on a new, improved Sorghum City, and an improved marital status. Sings beautifully.