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• Burghoff returns to Pepin Stage
• Coroner rules on Martell death
• Plum City knocked out of playoffs by Elmwood
• Trailer house near Ellsworth destroyed in Sunday fire

By Ruth Nerhaugen, Staff Writer

PEPIN - Stage and screen star Gary Burghoff is back to appear in the opening production of the Lake Pepin Players' 2003 season, "Sylvia."

A comedy by A.R. Gurney, "Sylvia" will be staged May 30 through June 22 in the 220-seat Allen-Hovde Theater. Performances are at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Burghoff's face became familiar to millions during his years in the role of Radar O'Reilly on the TV series "M.A.S.H.," but he already was an established actor. He debuted on the New York stage 35 years ago as Charlie Brown in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," and took home the Outer Circle Critics Award.

He reprised that role in Los Angeles and caught the eye of Otto Preminger, who recommended him for the movie "M.A.S.H." Burghoff created the role for the big screen and was the first actor tapped for the television series based on the movie. He received seven Emmy nominations, and won the award in 1976.

In the years since, he has appeared in a variety of regional theater productions, returned to New York in the Broadway company of "The Nerd," and appeared in films with stars including Fred Astaire and Carol Burnett.

An animal welfare advocate, Burghoff also is a wildlife artist. Some of those original paintings, giclee reproductions and offset lithographs are on display at BNOX Gallery, across the street from the theater.

In addition, he had a PBS show, "Pets: Part of the Family," for two years. The show is "on pause," he said, noting that corporate funding has been hard to come by since the 9/11 disaster even though 300 stations had picked up the series. "It's caught in the economy," he explained.

In 1999-2000, he appeared in Pepin "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," which the troupe took on a huge North American tour. "It was exhausting, but in a good way," he said, because the show played in about 110 theaters in towns of all sizes. His daughter joins him

Burghoff is back for several reasons, including a commitment to support regional theater organizations like Lake Pepin Players which also are feeling the impact of the nation's economic troubles.

"It's not an easy year for nonprofits," he said, stressing the need for local supporters also to make a commitment. "This theater is very special to me," Burghoff added, citing the Lake Pepin Players for not only entertaining people, but for performing works that touch people's lives.

"It's important to everyone, in a small town or a big town, to have theater," he said. "Every theater that closes is another chipping away from our culture, which is our identity. Art is what identifies us as a people."

The invitation from Pepin theater directors Bill and Sally Rogers also was appealing because it was his first opportunity to appear in "Sylvia," a newer play by the author of "Love Letters," which the troupe also has staged.

"It's an engaging and charming play" about relationships, Burghoff said. "It's original, and it's funny - not just fluff."

A final lure was the opportunity to again work with his daughter, Gena, who appeared with him in "Last of the Red Hot Lovers." She plays Sylvia.

"Sylvia" is the story of a couple, Greg and Kate, who move to Manhattan after many years in the suburbs. Greg brings home a dog he has found in the park - a street-smart mix of lab and poodle named Sylvia - who becomes a bone of contention between husband and wife.

Cast as Kate is Edith Elliot, a Twin Cities actress making her first Lake Pepin Players appearance. Two other metro actors also are in the cast, Joanna Burr and Daniel Jaroslaw. He was a crew member for "Red Hot Lovers" and went on the tour.

Tickets are $5 for children 15 and under, $14-$16 for students and seniors, and $18-$20 for adults. For reservations, call (715) 442-3109 or (800) 823-3500.

MARTELL, Wis. - Pierce County Coroner Sue Dzubay said she intends to rule the death of a Martell man a suicide. Jeremy Richard Griffith, 20, Martell, was found in his house at about 5 p.m. May 17. Death apparently was caused by a drug overdose.

ELMWOOD, Wis. - Plum City softball coach Jennifer Ulesich said her team fought hard against Elmwood, just couldn't get the job done.

Elmwood defeated Plum City 6-0 Friday in the Division 4, Section 3 first-round game.

"We certainly didn't give the game away," Ulesich said. "We were hitting well, we just weren't able to get anyone home."

Plum City outhit the Raiders 4-3 in the contest but also had three errors while Elmwood played errorless ball.

Marcy Kopp had a double to pace the Blue Devils. She was also the losing pitcher. She threw six innings, struck out two and walked nine.

Angela Garfield picked up the win for Elmwood. She walked three and struck out three.

Plum City ends the season with a 2-14 record.

A trailer house was declared a total loss following a fire Sunday.

The Ellsworth Fire Department was called to the trailer home at the Eugene Janisch property, N5655 CTH BB, in El Paso Town at 9:24 p.m. Besides the trailer, a car, a van and a motorcycle were total losses. Fire Chief Brent Langer said it was phoned in as an explosion.

No one was injured in the fire, according to Pierce County Sheriff Everett Muhlhausen, who said Tuesday the incident was under investigation. The trailer was unoccupied at the time of the blaze, Muhlhausen said, though authorities believed people were living there. Sheriff's officials were trying to contact the people Tuesday.

The trailer was being rented to Randy Johnson, who's been in jail, the sheriff said.

The cause of the fire was unknown as of Tuesday. Fire fighters were on the scene until shortly before midnight Monday. Monday, sheriff's deputies were present at the site, north of Hwy. 72 on CTH BB, where a police line surrounded the charred remains. Janisch, the owner, said the trailer had been at the location since the mid-1970s and he was uncertain whether it would be replaced.