TRR photo by Chris Conroy The lights shone brightly into the night at the Rivoli Theater in South Fallsburg, inside, the blues of Little Melvin rang out to a mostly empty set of seats. (Click for larger image)

All alone in the night

By CHRIS CONROY

SOUTH FALLSBURG - The music went on until around midnight, just as promised. What was missing were the people to enjoy it.

"I was expecting more of a crowd," said Pursuit of Happiness founder Elliot Schneider as he surveyed the empty seats.

While the turnout was less than spectacular, the entertainment offered on the night of May 27 was well worth the price of admission. Beginning a little after 6:00 p.m., the stage at the Rivoli Theater became the showcase for local talent ranging from newcomer Barnaby to the very experienced Little Melvin.

Barnaby, a young guitar player with more than a little talent and a lot of heart, opened the night by jamming with borrowed members of the other bands.

The classic rock (with a little bit of country spirit) of the Mountain Laurel Band picked up where Barnaby left off and played a full set for the handful of spectators who came through the doors.

Acoustic guitar blended with electric as the Acid Brothers took the stage with classic rock n roll.

The true treat of the night, though, came when Little Melvin, a true blues man if there ever was one, took the stage. Bringing classics like "Lucille" to life, and adding his own stories about being on the road and playing with legends like B.B. King, Little Melvin alone was worth the $7.50 general admission price.

"It's really a shame," Lori Schneider-Wendt, president of the Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, told the crowd of less than a dozen on the onset of Little Melvin's second set. "I hear people complain that there's nothing to do in Sullivan County and then they don't show up when something like this is going on."

"Maybe 6:00 was a little too early," Schneider said, looking for an explanation. "Some people told me we would have done better if it had rained today."

The low turnout isn't going to stop him, though. He's already at work planning the next set of performances for the new Pursuit of Happiness. "There'll probably be a show in early July," he said. "We're going to try to get Little Melvin back, too. And maybe Slam Allan."