Gold Rush comes to life

California’s state motto, not to mention its northernmost city, is Eureka! -- a celebratory cry uttered by the 1849 pioneers who first discovered gold in the Golden State. Literally, it means, “I’ve found it.”

Now “Eureka!” is the name of a theatrical event, South Coast Repertory’s annual Education Touring Production, making the rounds of local schools to teach youngsters about the watershed era in their state’s history.

“Eureka!” traces the early days that follow the discovery of the first gold nugget in the state, seen with wide-eyed wonder by a young man named Martin Wimmer as he shares the adventures of James Marshall, the prospector who discovered that first nugget, and other famous people from the Gold Rush days.

“Eureka!” begins on the morning of Jan. 24, when the first gold nugget was discovered, setting off a race toward California that didn’t slow for 15 years.

The creators of the SCR show are the company’s usual suspects -- Richard Hellesen and Michael Silversher -- with John-David Keller once again directing. The cast includes Daniel Chaffin as Martin, Liam Kraus as Marshall, and Diana Burbano and Louis Lotorto as Martin’s mother and father.

“It’s wonderful that not only is “Eureka!” about a time in California history, it’s a time that’s immediately recognizable to kids because they have studied the gold rush in school,” Keller said.

“Because this is a fictional story, the circumstances aren’t real, but every character in the show really existed,” the director added. “And everything that’s on the Seal of California was talked about in the show.”

Keller noted that “the Wimmer family aren’t well known historically, even though the first gold nugget is named for them, but there are some characters in the play who are well known.” Among them are John Sutter (proprietor of Sutter’s Mill), Levi Strauss (creator of the Levi’s jeans) and Lola Montez, a celebrated actress.

“All those characters really existed, but so did Martin Wimmer, whose father was the foreman at Sutter’s Mill and his mother was the camp cook,” Keller said. “Whether his story is a tall tale or not, it’s a great history lesson for kids.”

SCR has scheduled a number of performances in local schools between now and April 29, but several other dates are available for educators wishing to book the tour. Further information and scheduling details are available at (714) 708-5549.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Fridays.

20060210gzgnh2ke(LA)