GhostWalk: Teague-McKevett Ranch perfect for otherworldly high jinks
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: October 23, 2009
The mountains surrounding Teague-McKevett Ranch obviously hold centuries of stories, its palm-lined road to other times, other tales perfect for the otherworldly high jinks of the 15th Annual GhostWalk.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
The mountains surrounding Teague-McKevett Ranch obviously hold centuries of stories, its palm-lined road to other times, other tales perfect for the otherworldly high jinks of the 15th Annual GhostWalk. This is where GhostWalk, a unique form of street theater, offers visitors a chance to walk the walk of history and characters that populated it - now back for an update on their lives and deaths.
This year’s “ghostoric” location - the second visit to the ranch - offers not only stories to shiver by, but also a strong dose of local history, a GhostWalk staple. GhostWalk ends this weekend, so it’s time to make those reservations for a phantom good time visiting the specter of ghouls whose spirits might be someplace else but never tampered on.
On this GhostWalk there are “Many Questions” written by Mitch Stone, a tale of unexplained woe based on a true accident - or was it a murder? - that occurred near Santa Paula in 1923. Maria Popevis (the insistent but poignant Katherine Dippong Lawson) is a woman who has many questions - and no answers - regarding her husband’s mysterious demise, found shot while on a Labor Day hunting trip. Her spirit can’t rest without answers, showing that even in the world of the dead there are dead ends.
“The Money Tree” by GhostWalk Co-Artistic Director Jeff Rack is a screaming good time about the man (crazily conveyed by Peter Krause) who murdered for the secret location of gold buried by a legendary bandit, but he finds a tree grew to consume the hidden bounty. His quest to uncover this Mother Lode is complicated by the hellish characters he finds as he destroys the tree and burns its remains to recover the loot, and that fire must be kept burning because his twisted soul - vulnerable when fatally struck by his own ax - is wanted down below.
“The City Ghost and the Country Ghost” by James Kasmir tells the twisted tale of orphaned brothers separated when young - one is adopted and finds success, the other burdened with a disfiguring disease finds only madness. The city ghost Jacob (steady and sympathetic Kirk Martin) tries to help his deranged brother Lars (a tear it up role made to order for GhostWalk perennial favorite Louie Hengehold), but Jacob finds when he walks into Lars’ pitchfork that blood indeed is thicker than water, and in death there are no monsters.
“These Boots Weren’t Made for Walking” by GhostWalk Founder Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson is a story - told by her family for generations - that comes to life (and death) through some unfortunate footwear. Crockett (a gosh darn sassy Sammy Eberts) tells the tale of fancy and highly prized boots passed down generation by generation by their unfortunate first-time wearers. It is only when Crockett decides to don them for a fancy barn dance does she discover the deadly secret - and there’s payback on her part, even from the grave.
“The Ghost of Mulholland” by Mitch Stone (a repeat from a previous year) tackles the St. Francis Dam Disaster as well as its engineer William Mulholland (the distressed Doug Friedlander), whose fame turned to infamy when the dam collapsed in March 1928. Hundreds were killed in the disaster by the dam that Mulholland had pronounced sound just about 12 hours before it failed, and with it Mulholland’s sterling reputation. His own afterlife is filled with doubt as Mulholland frantically tries to place blame for the disaster on something fatally overlooked.
“Slam Dunk” by Peggy Kelly tackles the life of a turn of the 20th century Santa Paula High School girl Amanda (fetchingly played by Alyssa Grant), desperate to excel in basketball, become a famous poet like her hero Emily Dickinson, see women get the right to vote and capture the heart of Hank, her father’s handyman. Her infectious enthusiasm for all of the above makes Amanda reckless as she tries her best to score the winning point - but she finds that Hank returns her affections, although now she herself is just a memory, bouncing the ball and reciting Dickinson’s poetry through eternity.
This year GhostWalk is dedicated to Bob Binsley, who was instrumental in its creation.
October 23, 24 and 25 are the last nights of GhostWalk, which benefits the Santa Paula Theater Center. GhostWalk tours leave every 15 minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. sharp. The last tour begins at 9 p.m., an approximately one-hour walk. Attendees must bring personal flashlights. No children under 7, and absolutely no infants and/or strollers (unfortunately, due to the terrain of the ranch, this year’s walk is not wheelchair accessible).
Tours are limited to 25 people and reservations are recommended, as GhostWalk is always a sellout. Adults are only $15 each, students 7 and older $8 with school ID cards.
Bring some extra money: GhostWalk has a variety of items that benefit the cause as well as other area nonprofits. An added bonus is this year GhostWalk is offering a “Favorite Ghost Stories” of past years. For reservations only call the Hauntline, (805) 525-3037. For more information - including directions and parking instructions - visit www.ghostwalk.com.
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