A couple of good Christmas plays are going on at the Gold Hill Hotel, one with many Dayton residents performing.
"The Toys Take Over Christmas" is directed by Daytonite Jan Parsons, and features Erin and Haley Wilkes, Jade Barker, Max Worden, Sierra Biddle and Amanda Fillippini, all from Dayton; Duffy Gillespie of Fernley; Jordan Seddon, Morrison and Stone Tobin, all from Virginia City; and Dawn and Cameron Miller from the Virginia City Highlands.
One thing Dayton and Virginia City residents share, apparently, is a love of theater and knowing how to have a great time putting on plays.
These local children and four adults perform the play, which is about a master toymaker who doesn't want to sell his toys and dolls or have them loved by anyone else. He makes them almost as real as people with his magic doll dust. The dolls discover the magic of having hearts and feeling love.
With the help of the children and the audience they find the magic of Christmas.
Come listen to the music and see what happens.
This play is performed Wednesdays through Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., with dinner available before.
Then there is "A Christmas Calamity," at 8 p.m. Tuesdays, replacing the Tuesday Night Lecture Series for awhile. This play is very funny, and also features performers from Dayton and Virginia City.
For more information, call 847-0111.
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Silver City resident and archaeologist Robert Elston has been elected to the rank of Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an AAAS honor begun in 1874. According to the organization, Elston is being honored for "distinguished contributions to the study of prehistoric human ecology in arid lands."
Elston is also chairman of the Lyon County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and started a program in his home to teach Silver City kids how to play music.
He was also the original "Doc" and "Hardrock" in the Will Rose musical "Cathouse Afternoon" a few years back.
A man of many parts.
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The Dayton Kiwanis' Caboose will be featured in the Christmas on the Comstock Parade of Lights 5 p.m. Saturday in Virginia City. Ann Steinberg confirmed the group will bring their caboose, which sits at the entrance to Old Town Dayton most of the time, to Virginia City.
Other parade entries include the Hot Stix Drill Team, the Wild Ass Women (bringing donkeys), American Legion Post 56, the infamous Breakfast Club and many more.
Late entries are welcome, so come to the Fourth Ward School at 4 p.m. for the lineup and registration. Parade begins at 5 p.m. For those who have been in past parades and didn't get a parade form, just call me at 691-5687 and let me know if you would like to participate.