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This time, “Nick Rose” saves the day for Parkrose
LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Tom Mannen (left) and Tom Bernard of Turkey Creek Productions will offer a live Wild West show at the 7th Annual Rossi Barn Dance, Saturday, July 10, from 6 p.m. to midnight for only $12. |
| MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
Last year Rossi and friends gave the movie making a rest. Instead, they constructed the set of an old west town on the farm, and at intervals through the night performed skits with men and women in old west clothes shooting at each other. They even let visitors in on the fun, supplying them with guns (filled with blanks) and inviting them to join the shootouts.
This year there will be both attractions, plus everything else the annual fundraiser has always offered: all you can eat barbecued chicken; lettuce, potato or macaroni salad; rolls and strawberry shortcake. For a few dollars more you can partake of beer, wine or pop. The Last Rodeo Band will be performing and some folks may be inclined to dance. If neither dancing nor totin’ guns are to your liking, there are horseshoe pits, and folks willing to compete with you.
All this and more for only $12, with proceeds going to the Parkrose Youth Activities Association. This non-profit event supplements the budgets of Parkrose schools’ athletic and other programs, inside and outside the Parkrose School District. Rossi started the Barn Bash in support of these programs, especially youth football, as critically important to the lives of young people in the community and often the focus that keeps them in school and out of trouble.
The first film in the series, “The Legend of Parker Rose,” told of the struggle between the title good guy and the evil sheriff who replaces him. “Parker Rose and the legend of James Prescott” expanded on this, showing the damage done by the title political demagogue, who has a grudge against Parker dating back to the Civil War, before justice prevails.
In the latest episode, Joe Rossi says, “William Burnside from Portland (“Port Land,” as the movie says it) is trying to exert his influence over little Parkrose,” and Nick Rose has to keep things from getting out of hand. “We’re trying to maintain our identity against Big Brother to the west,” Rossi says. “The bad guys try to take advantage of us, but the good guys prevail.”
Once again the cast includes people from the community you may recognize, plus Mannen and his Turkey Creek Productions whose expertise make it possible. This year the crew includes eight Parkrose high school students who will also “be extras in some scenes,” Rossi says. As in years past, filming took place on the farm and at a location outside Scappose.
Based on a viewing of recent rehearsals, the newest film has a darker atmosphere than its predecessors do. The menacing bad guys intimidate the town folk and even their children.
Does Rossi ever get tired of the whole thing? Sometimes, he confesses, he wonders if the trouble to put on the productions is worth it. Then, he says, “For some reason I get an even better idea and I get excited all over again.”
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