Camille in Roaring Camp
by Thomas Wood Stevens

Ye olde touring company of players descends upon a forlorn western settlement (1850) called Roaring Camp, bringing with them their latest repertory of fashionable plays.

For this evening's performance, and in return for payment from the miners, the company goes into its version of Camille.

The miners are visibly impressed and vociferous.

The empathy is terrific.

So are the incongruous entr'acte performances while scenery for the play-within-a-play is being changed four times.

It is a rather straightforward and earnest version of Camille, and the burleque is left for the between-the-act fun in the saloon and the ending, which turns out surprisingly happy.

For a moment, at least.